Drug Free Australia believes that legalising cannabis would be extremely detrimental to Australia’s public health and would also send a strong message to the Australian community that this drug is safe to use.

Our main reasons are:

• Medical practitioners world-wide confirm that cannabis use is linked to psychosis and schizophrenia.   For example, Dr Brian Boettcher, Consulting Psychiatrist in the UK reports that ‘Cannabis is capable of precipitating psychosis, going on to the chronic cases in people who have had no family and personal history of psychiatric illness. There have been suggestions that such people may be the ones who have started cannabis in their teens’
• Mental ill-health associated with cannabis use is now being linked to violent crimes, family violence and suicides
• There are also links between cannabis use and birth defects. A Commonwealth Department of Health publication to medical practitioners warns about health risks such as impairment of foetal brain development, relative prematurity, smaller length and head circumference, malformations, higher rate of miscarriage and perinatal death.   A US study found a 10 times greater risk of non-lymphoblastic cancer to infants of marijuana-using mothers. Other effects in the new born are lethargy, slow to gain weight, increased startle reflexes, tremors and possible long--term developmental and behavioural effects. 
• Drivers intoxicated with cannabis, pose a 7 times greater risk of a fatal accident. For example a 10 year Victorian study found a 7 times risk of a fatal accident. Other studies clearly show that cannabis impairs car control, including the ability to stay in one lane, as well as slowing reaction time”. (ANCD Report, Dec 2004).

The argument for medical use of marijuana is also discounted.

• There is no conclusive evidence that cannabis has medicinal benefits over and above those already available in authorised pharmaceuticals.
• Cannabis, because of its complexity and toxicity does not meet the requirements of Australia’s medical standards.

With current costs of tobacco and alcohol in our community, why would we legalise this far more complex and potent drug?