As a retired pharmacist, I am uneasy about the promotion of marijuana and its extracts for medicinal uses. I have been following this for some time and I have no doubt that there are now and will be future valid uses, including for intractable pain and seizure control and possibly others.
For those who have experienced good results, I am happy for them.
My concern is the primitive, baby stage of research at this time. Most of it has centred on cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol extracts, and seems to be simply trial and error.
There is as yet no standardization or documentation of purity, potency, pharmacological activity and metabolism in the body, dosage recommendations, possible side-effects (short- and long-term) of the above extracts, or of any of the other 100 or more active compounds discovered in the plant. Various sources and strains of the plant are known to vary widely in their content of active ingredients.
My one word of warning is to avoid exposing children age 15 and younger, as this has been shown to cause a higher incidence of psychoses, including schizophrenia, in later life.
Craig Hammond
Victoria
Don’t trust our country’s credit rating
Re: “Deficit worries misplaced: Trudeau,” Dec. 18.
Our prime minister says that Canadians should be comforted by the excellent credit rating given our country by Moody’s Investment Services and Standard and Poor’s. Aren’t these the same credit-rating services that OK’d the securities backed by sub-prime mortgages in the early 2000s? The complete collapse of these securities resulted in the 2008 financial meltdown of the American economy and, to a lesser degree, the world economy.
Craig McCullough
Victoria
Offer rental cars at ferry terminals
With the rising cost of ferry travel and sailings being fully booked, why are car rentals not available at the major terminals? With a one-way price of just under $80 with same-day reservation, a one-day car rental of a compact would be less than half the cost of a return fare, thus not only saving money but freeing space on the sailings. Walking on would guarantee getting on board, and reserving would be unnecessary.
A free shuttle from the terminal to a nearby car rental lot would be necessary and convenient.
Keith Taylor
Victoria
Electric cars should make a sound
The B.C. government is insisting that we buy only electric vehicles in the future. These vehicles do not produce greenhouse gases and, as a side benefit, reduce the excessive noise in our urban environment.
However, the other day, as I was putting stuff into the trunk of my car in a parking lot, a Capital Regional District electric car suddenly materialized beside me. I had had no inkling of its existence because it was silent.
When we drive, we use (or should use) both our vision and our hearing to avoid a collision. That is even more vital for pedestrians — the use of ear buds or headphones while walking is recognized as a safety hazard.
I suggest that the B.C. government needs to mandate a minimum sound level for electric vehicles for safety.
Kenneth Mintz
Victoria
Celebrate religious diversity in public
The executive board of the Victoria Multifaith Society would like to add its voice to the opinions being expressed about seasonal decorations in the public spaces of Victoria.
As a society, we are grateful to the city for its support of the religious diversity in our community. We appreciate the desire for inclusiveness recently mentioned by Coun. Ben Isitt and we think that, rather than removing religious celebrations and decorations from public spaces, council would do better to include as many as possible. Hanukkah, Diwali, Navroz or Naw-Ruz — these are just some of the celebrations that bring light and joy to our lives as a community of communities.
When communities are encouraged to celebrate publicly, our understanding and acceptance of one another grows, barriers are broken down and bridges are built. This is the essence of inclusivity.
These observances should be celebrated in full view, in a way that’s respectful and non-intrusive. We think that the current seasonal decorations fit this description. If anything, we would like to see greater celebration of our religious diversity in public spaces.
Sheila Flood, Chair
Victoria Multifaith Society
