MARIJUANA HAS NO PLACE IN SOCIETY

Re: A Misguided Sense Of Justice, letter to the editor, Sept. 28; Pot
Growers Face More Jail Than Rapists, Sept. 23.

Two letters criticize the government's plan to increase the punishment
for marijuana growers. As a psychiatrist who has been practising for
more than 30 years, I have seen the extensive harm smoking pot has
done in terms of mental well-being for countless people and their
families. Many small marijuana growers share or sell their crop with
others, whose brains became poisoned, resulting in paranoia, psychotic
behaviour, amotivation and many of these damages become chronic and
long lasting, contrary to what most people may think.

Some of their presentations are indistinguishable from long-term
psychosis. Comparing the punishment for marijuana growers with sexual
predators is like comparing apples with oranges. They are both
unacceptable and should not be tolerated in our society.

Dr. Henry T. Chuang

Calgary