cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Use Decriminalised Cannabis Use Decriminalised Posted by CN Staff on March 21, 2004 at 13:55:01 PT Breaking News Source: The Australian Soft new cannabis laws in Western Australia would place young people at risk of serious physical and mental health problems, the state opposition said yesterday. From today, possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis and the cultivation of up to two plants will be decriminalised, attracting a fine or education session. Opposition Leader Colin Barnett said it was "irresponsible in the extreme" to soften penalties for using and growing the drug in the face of mounting evidence of its dangers. "There is clear scientific evidence that cannabis use is linked with depression and anxiety in youths and an increased risk of psychotic disorders such as paranoia, manic depression and schizophrenia," Mr Barnett said."Physical health impacts include a higher risk of throat, lung, mouth and tongue cancer, reproductive problems and possible impaired educational development in adolescents." The opposition leader said a 1992 report carried out by the US Drug Enforcement Administration showed one standard, outdoor plant could produce 448g of cannabis after 120 days, while two plants, harvested three times a year, could yield more than 2.5kg of cannabis."Under Labor's legislation the possession of those two plants will attract no greater penalty than a fine of up to $200," he said."To make matters worse the legislation allows for an unlimited number of cautions to be issued for possession and cultivation and only an education session for repeat offenders."Such a soft approach to law enforcement for the abuse of an illicit drug is a recipe for disaster and it is our children and their families who will pay."Mr Barnett said the softening of WA's cannabis laws would only benefit those who "profit from the misery of drug abuse". Source: Australian, The (Australia)Published: March 22, 2004Copyright: 2004 News LimitedContact: ausletr matp.newsltd.com.auWebsite: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on March 22, 2004 at 05:20:12 PT: Notice the use of connotations Now, just *why* is the word 'soft' used in connection with reducing cannabis law severity? What is it about the use of the word 'soft' in conjunction with the word 'laws' that causes an almost visceral negative reaction amongst many of the intended readers?Surely, the author of this article is aware of the emotional loading that accompanies such a word used in this context in Anglophonic countries. For those interested in why word connotations are so important (and you should be, as this is part-and-parcel of the propaganda techniques used against our position) you should go here: Taking ADvantage The Power of Words: Advertising Tricks of the Trade Part One of a Two Part Series http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~taflinge/words.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on March 22, 2004 at 01:01:03 PT: mounting evidence of its dangers??? Bwa-ha-ha.Colin Barnett obviously lives in la-la-land himself, the land of cannabis prohibition, based as always on lies, racism, and "moralistic" pleas about the children. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Virgil on March 21, 2004 at 17:42:09 PT Opposition Leader Colin Barnett His words are rubber and he is glue. Everything he says sticks to his whoring, lying ass. You will not have to be enhanced by laughing grass to laugh at the folly of such fantasy. He is now seperated from reality and those laughing at his stupid words will not laugh at his disservice to public office. Cannabis will rise and he will fall. Cannabis is not some obscure thing that people do not have experience with and he would not speak these words in front of a public gathering or he would get his due. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Petard on March 21, 2004 at 15:13:29 PT Opposition Leader Colin Barnett... was later heard to exclaim, "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!", followed several times later by a cry of, "Wolf! Wolf!". (Aesop, he ain't.) [ Post Comment ] Post Comment