DON'T KEEP OFF THE GRASS

At the risk of belittling the terrible experiences of families ruined
by the abuse of cannabis, I find many view points on the subject
unacceptable ('Hippie dream, modern nightmare', last week). I am a
31-year-old who has smoked pot regularly since the age of 18, though I
have, as time has moved on, curbed my substance abuse. Use of cannabis
does not always lead to the disintegration of a person and the
breakdown of family values. It does not lead to groups of teenagers
becoming packs of wild animals ready to kill. In isolation, it is
likely to lead to someone becoming paranoid and, in worst cases, being
sick and passing out. Most of the time, it leads to a belief that
everything is funny, certain types of music are better than they
actually are, and the search for chocolate is the one true quest.

Perceptions of the drug have been clouded by press reports. I was
recently treated to a discussion by two women in the office I work in.
Skunk, it seemed, was no longer safe; it was being 'cut' with all
sorts of rubbish and was sending people mad. The ignorance here was
staggering but enlightening, because I know that these are just
average people, with average opinions. It must be time to start
acknowledging that education is the only way forward. Ignoring current
research leads to misconceptions, inaccuracies - and is simply wrong.

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