I won’t prescribe marijuana

Sun rising on medicinal cannabis industry (June 26) seems high on business expectations and low on scientific information.

The main concern with ‘‘medicinal marijuana’’ is that none of the usual science associated with the development of any new drug seems to apply here, and we are left to the concept of treating medical conditions, as yet unspecified, with a herb that has not yet been fully investigated.

As a GP, when I prescribe a drug for my patients, I do so with the knowledge that the active ingredient has been fully isolated and tested, and manufactured to specific standards that include an appropriate dose for the condition I am prescribing it for.

I also know that side effects have been identified, and what the contraindications are for some patients.

I also know that the drug has been through rigorous trials to identify which medical conditions would benefit the most from it, and that it has significant advantages over current treatment for that condition, or no treatment at all.

Currently with marijuana, most of the evidence is anecdotal, and much of the research seems flimsy at best.

Until medicinal marijuana has been through the full investigative process, I will not be prescribing it. However, should the proper clinical studies show specific conditions that are helped by an appropriately researched therapeutic dose, then I would have no problems with that whatsoever.

Dr Don Fulton, Palmerston North

M¯aori statues needed

I largely sympathise with protesters’ attitude to many of the statues that decorate our cities and towns, but there is another attitude that can be adopted that would allow us to be happy with some of them

All peoples have elements in their past that they, now, completely reject – for Pa¯ keha¯ it is slavery and for Ma¯ ori, cannibalism. We have lots of statues to the Pa¯ keha¯ past but almost none to the Ma¯ ori. The truth is that our cities are Pa¯ keha¯ artefacts with Ma¯ ori out on the edge and not much space for them in the actual centres of power.

The Treaty promised them more. Modern New Zealand could acknowledge that by putting up statues to honour their past. Why is there not a statue in front of

Parliament of Wiremu Tamihana or Princess Te Puea Herangi or Te Rauparaha. Auckland has a CBD square dedicated to General Freyberg so why not one to Rewi Maniapoto, the great general of the New Zealand wars, and in New Plymouth one to Te Whiti-o-Rongomai of Parihaka.

This would begin to bring our real history to the forefront and show it is two peoples making it.

Nigel Cook, ex-president, Architectural Centre

Chilling development

Lloyd Scott (letters, June 27) criticises Todd Muller and Michael Woodhouse for exposing shortcomings in the handling of border control processes to contain Covid entry into New Zealand.

He describes the prime minister as ‘‘iconic’’ and implies it is ‘‘unpatriotic’’ to criticise her. This view is becoming a prevalent perspective advanced by her supporters and seems designed to stifle all criticism, even if valid. It is a chilling development.

Far from being ‘‘unpatriotic’’, these exposures have been valid in raising shortcomings in our border controls. They have sparked a flurry of activity and changes in those controls and conduct so there is less chance of failure. Without this, corrective action may have come too late. The pair should be thanked for what they have done, not censured.

Less edifying has been the lack of acceptance of ministerial responsibility.

It’s high time for a National Museum of Colonialism and Colonisation.

There is a wealth of history that needs looking at with a modern perspective and made publicly available in such an institution. A place, also, to house monuments to the past that are not appropriate in a more enlightened era.

Statues removed from public places could be housed in such a museum, accompanied by accurate historical facts of their true place in history.

Bride Coe, Paeka¯ ka¯ riki

Peter Ellis case

After 27 years, the Crown persists with trying to deny the late Peter Ellis justice (Tikanga requires a resolution to Peter Ellis case: lawyer, June 26).

The solicitor-general recently told the Supreme Court that Ellis’ defence was ‘‘weak’’. The judges disagreed.

According to Professor Michael Lamb, nine factors – including that details are suggested repeatedly and that any real memories are weak – can potentially reduce the accuracy of a child’s account. He claims all nine factors were present in the Ellis case.