All the major political parties have been playing fast and loose with
the truth about cannabis for over 75 years.

The truth is that should never have been made illegal in the first
place, and was done so for international political and economic
reasons, unsupported by the medical establishment or even the British
Government of the time.

Yet here at the start of a new millennium politicians like Coun Andrew
Feather ("Mailbag", Nov 27) keep on regurgitating the same old myths,
misleading soundbites and downright lies because they don't know how
to admit they were wrong.

Cannabis is not, and never has been, a dangerous drug. It is a plant
with many hundreds of beneficial and environment-friendly uses which
has been utilised worldwide for at least 4000 years, and may even have
played a key role in the rise of human civilisation.

Every independent study since - scientific, medical and social - has
enhanced the assertion that cannabis is both sufficiently safe for
human use, and effective as a medicine.

Every reasonable citizen who has examined the true facts is drawn to
the same conclusion - cannabis prohibition must end.

Alan Barrie Mason,
Morton Park,
Carlisle, Cumbria