LET'S FOLLOW DUTCH EXAMPLE OVER CANNABIS

IF William Marshall ("Going up in smoke", "Evening Courier", October 11)
wants to show us how Britain might change after cannabis decriminalisation,
why doesn't he simply look at Dutch realities?

Twenty four years after possession of 30 grammes of cannabis was
decriminalised there, a mere 2.5 per cent of the Dutch population - one
person in 40 - regularly use the herb. Adolescent use rates are around
half of what they are in Britain.

In the Netherlands decriminalisation has taken the glamour out of cannabis.
Cannabis prohibition is completely counterproductive, continually tempting
young people through the "forbidden fruit" effect.

Let's get real, let's go Dutch!

Joe Wein, Japan