WE THINK YOU OWE US AN APOLOGY, MR CLARKE

On the programme "On the Record BBC 1" on Sunday, Home office minister
Charles Clarke (pictured) stated that by running as a "Legalise Cannabis"
candidate in Norwich at the last general election, Howard Marks tried to "to
disrupt the election".

As Howard's election agent, I would like to ask him for a public apology, we
did no such thing.

The issue of the legalisation of cannabis is something this government has
set its mind against, no matter how many experts, police authorities and
even members of the public demand change. To present those of us who are
willing to stand up against this myopic policy and are trying to make
ourselves heard as "disruptive" is an indication of the desperation they
must be feeling.

The one thing to come out of our campaign in 1997 was the admission from Mr
Clarke that he has used cannabis himself, so he knows the law is no
deterrent, yet he still peddles the myth. Not only that, but, therefore, by
his own standards, Charles is a criminal, should he really be in office?

Derek Williams, Pembroke Road, Norwich