The Synanon addiction self-help foundation has helped more than 30,000 drug addicts out of severe dependency in around 50 years. Now she’s sounding the alarm: stop the legalization of cannabis!
In an open letter, the members of the Board of Trustees, including former governor Eberhard Diepgen (80) and Barbara John (84), head of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, addressed Berlin’s governor Franziska Giffey (43, SPD) and Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (58, SPD).
“We believe that legalizing cannabis is the wrong approach,” they write. “While we look after the people who, among other things, who have also slipped into addiction and illness through the consumption of cannabis, cannabis products are now even to be legalized.”
Synanon appeals to all politically responsible persons to oppose the request of the traffic light parties in the coalition agreement for the controlled delivery of the intoxicant.
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Every year nearly 400 people knock on the door at the Synanon headquarters in Malchow for help, according to John and Diepgen: “Many started with cannabis and none of those affected claimed that cannabis did not contribute to the addictive behavior.”
From experience with addicts, Synanon warns of long-term health damage and high consequential burdens on the health system.