From: Chris Clay <[c h ris clay] at [hempnation.com]>
Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,rec.drugs.cannabis,alt.drugs
Subject: "Marijuana harmless" rules judge
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 23:19:50 -0400

"MARIJUANA HARMLESS", RULES JUDGE

The following is excerpted from the decision of Justice John McCart 
in our constitutional challenge.  It was delivered on August 14th;
full decision is online at www.hempnation.com

--
I wish to turn now to some statistical evidence which was
introduced by various of the witnesses and which I accept as
valid. I heard from a most impressive number of experts, among
whom there was a general consensus about effects of the
consumption of marijuana. From an analysis of their evidence I
am able to reach the following conclusions: 

1. Consumption of marijuana is relatively harmless compared to
the so-called hard drugs and including tobacco and alcohol; 

2. There exists no hard evidence demonstrating any irreversible
organic or mental damage from the consumption of marijuana; 

3. That cannabis does cause alteration of mental functions and as
such, it would not be prudent to drive a car while intoxicated; 

4. There is no hard evidence that cannabis consumption induces
psychoses; 

5. Cannabis is not an addictive substance; 

6. Marijuana is not criminogenic in that there is no evidence of a
causal relationship between cannabis use and criminality; 

7. That the consumption of marijuana probably does not lead to
"hard drug" use for the vast majority of marijuana consumers,
although there appears to be a statistical relationship between the
use of marijuana and a variety of other psychoactive drugs; 

8. Marijuana does not make people more aggressive or violent; 

9. There have been no recorded deaths from the consumption of
marijuana; 

10. There is no evidence that marijuana causes amotivational
syndrome; 

11. Less than 1% of marijuana consumers are daily users; 

12. Consumption in so-called "de-criminalized states" does not
increase out of proportion to states where there is no
de-criminalization. 

13. Health related costs of cannabis use are negligible when
compared to the costs attributable to tobacco and alcohol
consumption. 
--
_____________________________________________
   Hemp Nation * http://www.hempnation.com/
Chris Clay * E-mail [c h ris clay] at [hempnation.com]