Nimbin HEMP Embassy

NIMBIN HEMP EMBASSY'S STATEMENT TO NSW PARLIAMENT COMMITTEES AND THE PUBLIC



To Whom it concerns:

We were impressed by the NSW Parliamentary Drug Summit. It was a very human experience. It often takes personal contact for people to realise the extent of the nightmare created by Prohibition.

This drug summit set a new direction for dealing with drug issues, where health outcomes were as important as law and order. It is critical that these issues continue to be addressed with the same level of compassion and care shared by us all towards the end of the Summit.

Pot smokers live in a massive alienated culture, created by the prohibition of Nature’s most popular traditional herbal medicines. The cannabis culture is changing rapidly. Indoor hydroponically grown cannabis now dominates the market and heroin is cheaper.

To us, there was an obvious lack of factual information about cannabis or cannabis use, despite thousands of valid scientific studies conducted over the last 100 years. And because it is a criminal culture by law, not by nature, it is hard to access information.

We are concerned about the many common misunderstandings about cannabis, so we have collected our thoughts on what we think is relevant information, with a list of references for those who wish to research further.

We are keen to help, and offer you plenty of knowledge and experience! The situation today for young people is far more dangerous than twenty or thirty years ago. Stronger addictive drugs are everywhere and cannabis has changed from a shared ritual to big business.

Yours Sincerely,

Michael Balderstone for the Nimbin Hemp Embassy



KEEP OUR KIDS OUT OF COURTS, OUT OF JAIL, AND IN SCHOOL
This is our primary objective and common ground. We all agree that ‘prohibition’ is doing more harm than good. Expulsion from school and the damage done by prosecution (for often just experimental use of cannabis) leads to alienation from society, unemployment, delinquency, and greater involvment with more dangerous drugs.

DISCRETIONARY POWERS FOR POLICE
Police discretionary powers over personal use may keep 50% of cannabis cases out of the court system, as well as encourage and support Community Policing.

CANNABIS AS A GATEWAY DRUG
96% of cannabis users have never even tried heroin! But under Prohibition cannabis is a gateway—to jail, alienation and criminal contacts. Prohibition has caused Cannabis to become a ‘gateway’ to tobacco for youth. Cannabis is frequently used as a "gateway" away from harder addictive drugs.

POTENCY: TODAY'S POT 30 TIMES STRONGER?
Absolute nonsense—please test it! Cannabis seized by police can be tested and will represent a good cross section of the market. As with any herb, quality is better than quantity anyway.

PSYCHOSIS AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Cannabis may be a co-factor in some psychotic episodes, though drug misuse is more often a symptom of the condition rather than the cause of it. We know paranoia and alienation created by Prohibition is a factor in mental problems.

HYDROPONIC POT
Hydroponically grown cannabis dominates todays’ market. There are real concerns regarding the use of chemicals and fungicides by indoor growers and the effect on the mind and body of users. Research is needed.

MEDICINAL USE
Where cannabis is the most appropriate remedy, doctors should be able to legally prescribe it.

QUANTITY OF PLANTS
Tolerence of domestic crops is essential in order to regulate cannabis out of the black market and away from other more dangerous drugs.

HONEYPOT EFFECT
The only answer is a national policy. Uniform legislation between the States will prevent this problem.

TOWARDS REGULATION—ECONOMIC, EMPLOYMENT AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUES
All the evidence is there for a change in attitute. Regulation leads to less use and many other benefits to the country. It’s time to begin deglamourising cannabis, it’s only a herb. As with the American alcohol experience, Prohibition was a mistake.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
All the facts about cannabis are out there. Especially on the Internet, it is possible to keep up to date with the latest research and policy news.

 


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