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maltatoday WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2017 News 3 MATTHEW VELLA THE drug rehab charity OASI Foundation has again reinforced its opposition to the legalisation of cannabis, saying the govern- ment was ignoring the reasons behind first-time drug usage. OASI, which runs a drug rehabilitation course for ad- dicts, said that the govern- ment should be proactive in understanding why young peo- ple were choosing "escapism" through drugs. "The Education, Health and Social Ministries should there- fore take up their responsibili- ties and truly lead by exam- ple to divert and invest their resources… towards under- standing the reasons behind such a thoughtless use of un- controlled mood-altering sub- stances simply to get an artifi- cial good feeling in their lives." OASI said legalisation of can- nabis would be interpreted by users that there is no harm in doing marijuana. "Society has the responsi- bility to protect persons from myriad forms of poverty which canna- bis can lead to. This should be done also, out of justice towards those who work and strive so hard to sus- tain our present and future generations through their vocational profession and their finan- cial contributions towards the coffers of the state." OASI said the recreational usage of cannabis was being excused in favour of medical cannabis, but said the ration- ale was a perilous one. "OASI Foundation's concern relates to the negative health effects steps to unrestrained legalized mood-altering sub- stances may have on our chil- dren's future quality of life and that of our society at large," the NGO said. Instead, OASI said it wants de- bate from professionals and research to lead any discus- sions on legalisations. It also said that le- galisation would in- tensify the downward spiral of addiction. "Professionals in this field have had to deal with too many per- sons who, in their pre or early teens, started off smoking nicotine and consuming alcohol – both legal drugs – to end up taking a downward spiral into addic- tion, ruining their lives, that of their families and affecting so- ciety at large. Legalizing can- nabis will intensify further this downward spiral." It said that with smoking and alcohol also being severely discouraged today, it would be foolish to legalise another mood altering substance. "We at OASI are aware of the misleading perception and mind-set that, as long as a per- son does not make use of heroin, there is no harm done in smok- ing cannabis or doing a line of cocaine every now and then. "Therefore, the false justifica- tion follows that as cannabis does not kill physically, there is no harm done in its free use. Notwithstanding all this, it is common knowledge that smok- ing cannabis kills emotions and feelings towards oneself and others and thus puts at risk the well-being of the user and soci- ety at large." Rehab charity says State should study addiction, not legalise cannabis Drug rehab charity OASI Foundation says perception that only heroin is harmful drug use, is misleading in missive against legalisation of cannabis It was an unusual find for the Customs Department this morning when a tip off led them to discover illegal ciga- rettes being distributed at an old people's home. Almost 3,000 cigarettes on which no tax was paid were found in the administrative of- fice after a raid carried out at 5.30am. The department said resi- dents were being offered contraband cigarettes by the home's management. The largest batch discovered pertained to the brand Rich- man. And in another swoop on a Hamrun bar, the department discovered another 1,200 con- traband cigarettes of the brand Business Royals' King Size. The cigarettes were found in the storeroom of the bar situ- ated in the centre of Hamrun. The finds form part of an on going crackdown on contra- band items that the depart- ment has embarked on. Customs has also asked the public to report anonymously any places were illegal ciga- rettes are sold. Reports can be made by call- ing 25685124 or 25685200. Black market cigarettes peddled at old people's home Customs officials swoop down on Sa Maison old people's home where management distributed illegal cigarettes to residents Police raided the Sa Maison old people's home at 5.30am