CANNABIS USE IS NON-PROBLEMATIC

NEIL McKeganey (October 25) writes that "cannabis also happens to be
the illegal drug most heroin and cocaine addicts actually started with".

While there is a degree of truth in this, Professor McKeganey, of all
people, should be aware of the maxim that while most "addicts"
(whatever that means) use cannabis, very few cannabis users will touch
heroin and will probably have little more than a passing acquaintance
with cocaine.

Indeed, the evidence strongly suggests that the majority of cannabis
users are unlikely to progress beyond the occasional use of other
illegal drugs: which drugs these may be is dependent on a number of
factors (the social situation, for example).

Furthermore, if we were to remove the word "illegal" from Professor
McKeganey's statement, then "cannabis" could be replaced with
"alcohol" or "tobacco" (a far more likely culprit). What are we to do
with these?

Professor McKeganey suggests that what we need is "a good deal more
intolerance of all illegal drugs". That word "intolerance" is the key
here and betrays the Puritan roots of Professor McKeganey's whole argument.

Already in Scotland there is a smoking ban in public places (and,
individual liberties aside, this is no bad thing), and recently there
have been some official noises made regarding curbing the appalling
relationship (some) Scots have with alcohol. It isn't known at this
time what form these will take, but the chances are they'll involve
the words "control" and "restriction". "Intolerance" will, therefore,
be heavily implied: the stigmatisation of users of more-or-less any
psychoactive compound will be complete.

As Professor McKeganey will be aware, the majority of drug users can
be described as "non-problematic". Other than the fact that their main
drug of choice is illegal, they are not criminals. When asked about
their use, they tend to report that one of the principal reasons for
using whatever it is they use is to relax and/or unwind, usually after
a hard week at work (and thus providing some - admittedly anecdotal -
evidence that the intention of their drug use is to prevent serious
mental ill-health).

Whether sitting around sipping mineral water and reading temperance
tracts - as appears to be the primary aim of Professor McKeganey's
grand plan - will have the same effect is very definitely moot.

Dr John Dee, Amsterdam, Netherlands.