Sirs,

Judge Graham Boal QC called on pro-drugs campaigners to study the case of
Arnat Boonprasit. (Daily Mail Nov 12).

Boonprasit, a paranoid schizphrenic stabbed to death a friend. He said
that he was a long-term user of cannabis which psychiatrists claimed
contributed to his state of mind at the time of the murder. The judge said
"In the current debate on whether cannabis should continue to be a
prohibited substance, perhaps more attention should be given in some
quarters to cases such as this."

If one incident such as this justifies continuing to ban cannabis and
punish literally hundreds of thousands of non-violant and inoffensive
users, then the case for banning alcohol would be overwhelming.

However, we know only too well from the history of alcohol prohibition in
the US that it was an unmitigated social and legal disaster, much the same
as the prohibition of drugs today.

The debate on legalisation of cannabis has nothing to do with health,
mental health, or crimes of violence. There is only one vital question.
Should we punish people who choose to smoke cannabis or should we them
grant freedom of educated choice? I HAD thought that freedom of choice and
belief were our basic Human Rights. Clearly the judge and the British
Government disagree.

Sincerely,

A. Buffry

Checked-by: Pat Dolan