ALL DRUGS ARE NOT THE SAME

In response to the letter "Drug problem to close to home" (post bag,
October 18) I would like to point out a few facts.

David Vaughan seems to be confused and thinks that all drugs are the same.
They are not.

Cannabis is a herb that has been in use for thousands of years and until
the last 75 years (when it was prohibited) caused no problems.

Heroin, Cocaine and Alcohol on the other hand are dangerous drugs that need
controlling.

Two of the most dangerous drugs - Alcohol and Tobacco - are legal, but
rather than leave these in the hands of criminals to make worse, the
government controls them to minimise the harm.

The most practical thing one could do would be to legalise cannabis which
would take it out of the drug market (out of an uncontrolled market into a
controlled market).

We could then look at the drug problem again, look at each substance
individually and work out the best policy.

To say all drugs are the same is dangerous and causes more harm than
cannabis alone ever could.

Pete Henshall
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance
PO Box 198, Norwich NR2 2DE
Phone 01603 442215