Letters for Wednesday September 29, 2021

The benefits of cannabis are endless, the use of medical marijuana (higher CBD content) has been widely successful in treating those who suffer from anxiety, pain and inflammation as it reduces nausea and vomiting brought on by cancer and chemotherapy, it relaxes muscles in people with MS, stimulates appetite, and aids with weight gain in people with terminal illness, has shown promise in treating severe autism as well as ADHD, cerebral palsy, pain linked to arthritis and gout, PTSD, and is even used in moderation during recovery from drug or alcohol abuse.

Cannabinoids are even easily available in non-psychoactive forms such as Delta-8 THC, helpful to anyone who is sensitive to psychoactive effects more commonly associated with Delta-9 THC or those who suffer from mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder among others.

This is not to say the only people who can benefit from cannabis are those with a medical condition, marijuana is also safe to use recreationally and can improve quality of life when taken responsibly.

Cannabinoids (the umbrella term for which all these different compounds found in cannabis fall under), can help with sleep, anxiety, relaxing, stress to needing improved focus, better mood and euphoric sensations.

There is no doubt that marijuana is much safer than cigarettes and alcohol, the negatives you might associate with it are from a time of stigmatisation, ignorantly labelling it as dangerous or drug use.

I can assure you it is nothing but a plant, harmless and used to help people in a multitude of ways.

So in this day and age you have to be disgusted when you read in the Cook Islands News on Tuesday  that the police are wasting their time and taxpayers money by hunting down alleged harmless cannabis sellers and users.

Furthermore, the police want to deny someone bail on marijuana charges, they would rather see them rot in prison, that’s inhumane and disturbed.

The police are trying to use the ridiculous excuse to keep someone in prison while they continue to investigate.

It is time for PM Mark Brown to legalise the use, growth and distribution of cannabinoids in the Cook Islands.

There is all this talk about diversifying our economy and marijuana is an untapped goldmine.

Don’t worry about the sanctimonious holier than thou religious zealots that would oppose cannabis legalisation, they are the same people who are opposed to decriminalising homosexuality in the Cook Islands.

Steven L Boggs