Letters to the editor

Cannabis: We know that it has health benefits, proven by countless studies and the US patent. We know that Government and most New Zealanders can’t afford to pay $1,000+/month for pharmaceutical cannabis products currently permitted. We know that most New Zealanders can grow their own, and indeed many do, for self-treatment.

Apricot kernels: Some studies have proven its effectiveness (laetrile) in the treatment of cancer.

Black salve: Anecdotal evidence shows that it is effective in treating melanomas.

Join the dots. What is the common theme here? It is not that people are dying from these three. Are people likely to get “stoned” from using unradiated apricot kernels or black salve? No. Do people need to be protected from themselves for using these three potential healers? Again, no. Why? Because nobody has died from using cannabis in the last 11,500 years, or from natural health supplements in their recommended dosages.

Efficacy comparison: An estimate from Merck Shape & Dohme was that 12% of people with cancer could have been saved from using their currently unapproved pharmaceutical drug – 88% would not! Cannabis is curing many diseases, including Alzheimer’s, colitis, some cancers and neurogenerative diseases, with no side-effects.

The common theme is that people who use traditional medicines are not using Big Pharma products. The number of deaths from opoiods in States where cannabis is legal has dropped dramatically.

Knowing that 64,000+ people/year in the US dying from Big Pharma’s opioids, and 12,000+ from aspirin, demonstrates that being “stoned” is a red herring. Both the US and NZ has a “legal substance” opioid epidemic. With 450 million people in the US and 4.5 million in NZ, and having similar societies, we could reasonably assume 640 people are dying in NZ from opioids, and 120 from aspirin.

For our safety and protection, Government needs to lift the prohibition on cannabis immediately.

Beverley Aldridge
President, Otamatea Grey Power