CITY HAS HISTORY OF CANNABIS USE

After hearing about the recent attempts by police to close down the
cannabis cafe in Lancing, one of which involved the use of a tractor
(The Argus, November 11), I was shocked to see taxpayers' money
wasted on such a huge scale.

The stretched resources of the police could have been better used to
combat more serious crime. If people want to consume something which
may do them harm but which does not cause any lasting damage to the
rest of society - as alcohol does - then these smokers should be
left alone.

In my opinion, cannabis should be completely legalised or at least
decriminalised in the Brighton area and there should be special zones
where coffee shops could be set up where both tourists and locals
could be allowed to smoke the drug in the open air without fear of
arrest or prosecution by the authorities.

I should mention that cannabis production itself is nothing new to
the Brighton area. In the 14th century, according to The History And
Architecture Of Brighton by Anthony Dale most of the land now
occupied by Black Lion Street and Ship Street was known as the
Hempshires after the plots which it contained for the production of
hemp to make ropes for fishermen.

Undoubtedly these plots were also used to grow cannabis which could
be smoked too.

Even in the Middle Ages people were well aware of the effects of
cannabis ingestion.

It appears that Brighton has a long history of cannabis production.
Changing the local bylaws to allow people to smoke cannabis in
certain specified areas could raise much-needed revenue, lead to many
more tourists visiting the city and relieve the blight of
drink-fuelled violence which currently plagues most city centres.

William Dartnall

Western Road, Brighton