CANNABIS CONTROL

Sir--The $101 million spent by the police on cannabis enforcement between
1995 and 2000 (May 29) could have been used instead to provide schools with
decent drug education rather than sniffer dogs, or rehabilitation for
problem users rather than imprisonment.

Nandor Tanczos is correct when he says that prohibition is failing to
reduce cannabis abuse. The statistics for cannabis use by minors continue
to rise annually, while the starting age for smoking seems to be dropping.

Rather than imprisoning smokers, let us treat cannabis abusers within the
health system. Rather than allow a completely unregulated black market to
target and supply our teenagers, let us take charge of the situation and
allow licensed outlets to sell only to ID-carrying adults.

S. McINTYRE
May 30, 2001