Letters: Vegan protest gives a timely reminder about suffering

Protesters at the Tauranga Races. Photo / File

My congratulations to the seven young vegans who wrote messages on placards and stood at the entrance to the racecourse last Saturday.

As I sat observing, even enjoying, the whole elaborate spectacle at the races, I thought about your messages. I realised that many happenings in this world of ours please and benefit some, while causing suffering, even death, to others.

I appreciate your reminder.

Mary Rose
Greerton

Gardens and art

I have had a great four days looking at gardens with envy, looking at art and wished I had more walls than windows in my house.

Thanks to everyone who opened up their gardens for us to view and the artists who must have been very busy this year.

I also went and listened to Ruud Kleinpaste, thank you for a very interesting talk not only at the festival but also at Baycourt a few months ago. Why do we import TV documentaries on insects, when we have Ruud who is very interesting, knowledgeable, funny and a great piano player.

Thanks to the organisers for making this a wonderful four days, the weather helped as well.

Wendy Galloway
Omokoroa

Cannabis legalisation

It appears as a society we are sleep walking towards legalisation of recreational cannabis. There currently appears to be no balanced discussion about this psychoactive substance,THC.

Current conversations focus on similar reasons; taxes, gangs, elimination of social ills and if medical cannabinoids are legalised then why not recreational cannabis ? Although related botanically cannabinoids and cannabis are two differing chemicals.

The Colorado experience is currently cited to highlight the positive aspects of legalisation. We can access information from that US state demonstrating increased admissions to psychiatric wards, increases in traffic accidents whilst under the influence of cannabis, and organised crime legitimising its activities.

Otago University from its two major longitudinal studies has research regarding cannabis use before the age of 18 and its negative impact on academic outcomes, employment, but also as a gateway drug and in some instances the developing of psychotic symptoms in users.

We have already opened Pandora's box twice allowing easy access to psychoactive substances, the first being alcohol, the second synthetic drugs. Although the latter are now illegal the shadow of this rescinded legalisation still lays across the country.

Why not utilise this community's resources and interview practitioners who could bring a balance to the discussion?

Wol Hansen
Avenues