'Mushroom Ban is kretologie'

The prohibition of magic mushrooms Minister Ab Klink of VWS is based on 'feelings and kretologie abdomen. " That suggests the Amsterdam toxicologist Freek de Wolff. He acts as a witness today during the brief proceedings against the Ministry of the Association of National Smart Shops (Vlos) to ban magic mushrooms trying to block. ''There are no scientific grounds for banning magic mushrooms,''says The Wolff. In a letter called The report lists Wolff, until 2006 a member of the main advisory committee of the Ministry for drugs, a series of objections against the ban magic mushrooms. So once again he speaks the explanation of Klink in the measure of governance that the use of magic mushrooms is more risky than the use of alcohol. The Wolff:''The claim is scientifically incorrect and untenable. The active substances psilocine and psilocybin in magic mushrooms are not addictive. Acute physical effects, as these already occur, are mild and well-treated if necessary. Chronic physical effects that in the long run can lead to death, like alcohol, are not included.'' The ban magic mushrooms, according to the Minister after a series of serious incidents involving users, including in Amsterdam. According to Wolff, none of the cases determined whether magic mushrooms are used., Sun are never victims of urine and blood tested for the presence of the active substances from magic mushrooms or other drugs. The linkage of the incidents with the toxicologist called magic mushrooms use in no way scientifically acceptable. The Wolff, until his retirement at the Leiden University Medical Center:''For years, magic mushrooms are used legally and this has never led to health problems. When that show the percentage of poly drug users also have used magic mushrooms, the health not to the other resources but attributed to the magic mushrooms. Such a conclusion is arbitrary and suggestive.'' The Wolff is surprised about the location of the fly agaric on the list of banned mushrooms. The description of the ministry that the active substance in the mushroom tingling works on the central nervous system, according to the toxicologist also goes for coffee and chocolate. ''But apparently that is no reason these products on list II of the Opiumwet to take.'' The ban must go Monday. The municipality know that inspections have not yet carried by the smart shops. At the end of last week was a letter from the Ministry received. That Monday is first discussed in the solid the mayor of consultation with the Chief Constable and the main prosecutor.