Just a money-making racket

People seem to be focusing on the so-called medical benefits of legalising marijuana (Pointing green fingers, Courier July 10) and have not realised that Government is calling for the legalisation of this substance because of economic and industrial purpose as well. It is just another easy route Government will take to increase and generate revenue.

I am now convinced that all articles that have been published are to make a reader believe that it is to benefit the medical industry and that this is Government’s main objective.

It has been clinically proven that marijuana does not cure or control any medical condition including cancer. It merely aids in pain relief and supresses certain symptoms and becomes a substitute for pain medication.

Medical research has proven that relying on marijuana alone as a treatment while avoiding or delaying conventional medication care for cancer can have serious health consequences. Some of the proven side effects like increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, hallucinations, mood changes and poor co-ordination become life threatening, especially in elderly persons.

Forbes has reported on how people have created multi-million dollar empires from manufacturing and harvesting this product. Governments have said they will regulate the process of supply to medical companies, and have now left it to the private sector to produce. Only a small percentage is being manufactured for medical use. Most of it is being produced for recreational use and in edible and botanical products.

The African Christian Democratic Party feels that legalisation of marijuana is a strategy for wealth creation, rather than a medical benefit. The point I am trying to make is that in a world of breakthrough technologies and scientific research, especially in the medical field , there is no need to look to marijuana as the ‘saving grace’ of the day.

LOSHINI MOHANLAL

Ballito