Over-the-phone medicinal scripts, no follow-up consultations, little or no regulation of the industry, tobacco shops opening in most suburban areas in readiness for “over the counter” cannabis legalisation and community acceptance, no real medical evidence for value in use and obscene profits from manufacturers and distributors (“Cannabis script surge raises ethical alarm”, October 20). Just what can go wrong? It is a business model reeking of a quick win, with those in need left flailing. The government needs to step up and regulate appropriately.
Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Medicinal cannabis being grown in September 2024 at Victorian cultivator ECS Botanics.Credit: Jason South
Don’t follow the Yanks
Australian politicians can’t help but follow American politicians’ ideas here – unfortunately the bad policies (“Abortion is decriminalised. Why the hell are we debating it again?”, October 20). Fringe parties have been elected with one-issue policies that don’t help but divide the community. Outcomes are invariably affecting minorities – or even majorities such as women of all stripes – with this type of criminalising of abortion. The US likes to lecture the world about human rights, but it doesn’t respect women’s rights. Worse is the US Supreme Court, which is so partisan that the justice is unfair, such as the Roe v Wade repeal and removing constitutional rights. One day soon I wouldn’t be surprised if some party asks to have our gun control laws repealed and we see gun violence in the streets. God help us.
Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
I find it troubling that many male politicians feel compelled to dictate how women should manage their personal health, particularly by advocating the removal of a woman’s right to choose when it comes to abortion. It strikes me as absurd if my wife were to say to me, “You have deadly prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9/10, but you’re not having a prostatectomy because I want to preserve our intimacy”. Of course, I would prioritise my health and longevity in such a scenario. In the same way, male politicians should trust women to make informed decisions about their own health without interference.
Warren Bowden, Fairlight
Avian flu nightmare
Ravages to wildlife since the first colonial foot set forth on this continent have been catastrophic (“$100m boost to help tackle looming bird flu onslaught”, October 20). The looming threat of avian flu upon what remains is the stuff of nightmares. The $100 million earmarked for triage is better than nothing, but it is evident that without a greater response to this approaching ecological disaster, there may be close to nothing left after the extinction storm.
Steve Dillon, Thirroul
Unis would say that
“Students benefit from learning alongside students from different backgrounds” is the kind of motherhood statement we have all come to expect from universities more focused on their business model than education (“Sandstone universities accused of dropping academic standards”, October 20). It comes with the other pillar in their model, the dreaded group assignment, where we “learn to co-operate”. Unpaid fellow students, anxious to pass, tutor both international and poorly motivated local students, and write their group assignments for them. Everyone knows that to get through, the group must pass. I carried many students in group work when I studied my business degree and learnt about “economies of scale” without opening a textbook.
Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West
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