Dear Sir,

 I am 66 years old and have been using cannabis for 46 years on a regular basis, both for medical and recreational purposes, although I currently am not in a position to obtain or use a suitable quality due to my location, financial and legal factors, as well as the dangers of dealing with shady characters in dangerous places.

 I am a law abiding citizen, and am now retired after a very successful life in business, in which I was the CEO of a chain of hotels in Amsterdam Netherlands, where I lived for 28 years before returning to retire in South Africa where I was born and grew up. Prior to that I was the managing director of an advertising agency in Johannesburg.

 I have never had any adverse side effects from cannabis, except at the hands of law enforcement officers, who have on occasion made my life very difficult, whereas I am an honest and law abiding citizen in every other way.

 Cannabis has helped me with a chronic neurological muscular disorder by relaxing the muscles and saving me from almost constant pain due to cramping. It has also been a great help in dealing with, and relieving the stress that comes with occupying a hugely responsible position in business, and in overcoming insomnia. It has never impaired my operating ability, and I have never had a hangover, or any other bad side effects from it. Indeed, in 46 years I have never witnessed a bad effect on any other users, except when combined with known toxic substances like alcohol, which I do not use at all.

 Having lived in The Netherlands for 28 years, where it is legally easily obtainable, and now living in South Africa again, I am struck by the number of people who, at some time in their lives, have, or could have benefitted from Cannabis use, but are now not able to do so as it would adversely effect their jobs and social standing were it to become known that they had used Cannabis. They also have no possibility of obtaining it without dealing with criminals, and venturing into dangerous areas and situations.

 Further to this, due to the illegality, medical grade Cannabis is virtually unobtainable, or if obtainable, unaffordable, and the inferior quality available is not effective, it’s use generally leading to drowsiness, sluggishness, incapacity to function fully, and headaches.

 The Minister has stated that he sees no reason to legalise Cannabis for medical use as there are enough medications on the market already. This is disingenuous and flies in the face of all the research and evidence collected in the last decades in Europe and the USA. Many people I know do not trust or like products manufactured from heavy chemicals with nasty side effects, such as those produced by the pharmaceutical industry, especially when there are historically tried and trusted, and proven effective natural remedies. Cannabis has been often described as a miracle plant due to the vast number of disorders that the various components have been shown to treat effectively and cheaply. Especially cancers, epilepsy and many psychological disorders. Its illegality further swells the coffers of the already obscenely wealthy pharmaceutical companies that are also major polluters of  our environment and bodies, and are holding the poor, sick people of the planet to ransom.

 Further to this, the justice, economic, environmental, and industrial  factors alone, let alone reason and common sense, would warrant an urgent review of the current status of Cannabis. But we are dealing with the medical issue right now. Cannabis is mostly known, and either loved or vilified, for it’s recreational use, but this is just the tiny tip of a very large iceberg, and as such is of very little consequence to the argument, except in the area of human rights. 

 The illegality of Cannabis is rapidly being reversed in many of the wealthier, more advanced countries of the world, with highly respected and heavily funded research institutes, due to the overwhelming evidence of its benefits and harmlessness, and it’s continuing illegality is a crime against humanity, a terrible waste of resources, and an insult to the creator of this majestic universe, Cannabis being one of its humble components.

 The facts are all in, and another time-wasting, obfuscating round of research and committees, would be a total waste of time, money and resources, and a slap in the face of all suffering and sick people, many of them, like my sister’s 2 year old granddaughter with cancerous brain tumors, just children, who need help NOW!

 It is also noteworthy that, according to international research, as read in our local newspapers a few months ago, South Africa has one of their highest number of regular Cannabis users in the world, something like 31% of the population, and it strikes me that, in a democracy, the continued illegality and persecution of growers and users is not only undemocratic, but unjust, unfair and a terrible waste of resources, like crime fighting, which are urgently needed elsewhere. Given that the history of its illegality in South Africa was solely on based on racism, this makes a mockery of our recent history and the glorious victory over the forces of evil – apartheid, oppression, injustice and inequality. Besides re-legalization being an obvious vote better from at least 31% of the population.

 In the name of common sense, justice, reason, compassion, and a lifelong dedication and commitment to bringing a relief from suffering for all sentient beings, I humbly beseech you to see that this bill is presented to Parliament and passed into law as soon as possible.

 I would therefore like to have the opportunity to address the Portfolio Committee of  Parliament at a public hearing on the proposed Medical Innovation Bill, and the re-legalisation of Cannabis in general.

 Yours very sincerely,