OVERLOOKED ONE SALIENT POINT

Having just read Nigel Simon's letter, surely he has overlooked one
salient point. Skiing, horse-riding, sailing, golfing, hill walking
and cleaning upstairs windows are not illegal! Mrs D Wells, Hethel
Road Wreeningham

I must take issue with your correspondent Nigel Simon (EDP June 28)
when he compares recreational drugs with other risky recreational activities.

Mr Simon states that road accidents exclusive of essential driving
would come top of the death list over a 10-year period. I would agree
with that.

However road safety is another issue and needs to be tackled
separately. It should not be compared with drug taking, social or otherwise.

I spent 17 years in the RAF and I believe the armed forces policy on
drugs to be spot on. It is simple, meddle in drugs and you are out.

This of course was backed with good education and awareness of drugs
both in basic training and throughout my service career so I feel I
know a little about the subject.

Since leaving the service I have also been involved in setting up of
random drug and alcohol testing programmes within the workplace.

Mr Simon seems to believe that cannabis is no worse than alcohol and
should be legalised. I would disagree totally - use of cannabis can
bring on very irrational behaviour and mood swings and it stays in the
body for some considerable time.

The Americans conducted a controlled test in a flight simulator. A
qualified pilot was given a 'joint' to smoke, he was then asked to
carry out a simulated approach and landing. He couldn't even land on
the runway!

Many hours later he was asked to carry out the same test and he still
missed the runway centreline by several feet.

Is this what we want in our workplace? Would Mr Simon like to be on
an aircraft that had been serviced by and was piloted by cannabis
users? I wouldn't.

The most dangerous aspect of cannabis I believe is when the user no
longer gets the 'high' he/she once had and moves on to something
stronger to get that same effect such as heroin or cocaine. How many
heroin addicts started by using cannabis?

As apparent I would condemn Mr Simon's attitude towards drugs. We
need to educate our children in the dangers of drugs and where they
can lead not soften our stance and legalise them. You cannot compare
drugs with the other recreational pursuits.

Yes many pursuits have risks, most of those you can control and reduce
with the use of correct safety equipment and procedures. take drugs
and you can easily get on to that downward spiral that you can't
control. Before long your life is misery and ultimately it could
cause your death.

Mick Partridge
Suters Drive
Thorpe Marriott