I have chronic pain and live in a country where doctors prescribe opiates freely, and codeine can be purchased without prescription.
Codeine misuse has been identified as a growing problem, but the sales are so lucrative to the very strong pharmacutical union, so the talk of controlling it is always just talk.
Cannabis has just recently been approved to be prescribed for specific criteria, but not many doctors have approval to prescribe. The process to become approved is difficult and time is money so not many bother. Those who do have the licence are forbidden by law to advertise it.
To top it off police do road side saliva tests without a warrant and arrest people who may have used THC a month ago.
The delay in approval is all about $$.
How can the pharmaceutical companies control some things that literally grows like a weed.
Meanwhile alcohol fuelled violence and illness continues and ETOH culture is not only accepted, but those who don't drink are looked upon as UnAustralian.
Yes, unaustralian is a real term used frequently to defend a monocultural way of life.
Whoops I ranted.
For the record. I am not a huge fan of this substance. But it has it's uses.
And I have seen poppy products (opiates) do far more harm.
And yes, give the information, and decriminalise lifestyle choices and give them alternate pain and illness management.
Resteemed.
Whoa... roadside saliva tests? Big Pharma has so much power... it's scary.