IN RESPONSE TO AKERMAN COLUMN

In a predictable response to the new Victorian cautionary system, Piers
Akerman (Daily Telegraph, July 9) leads us on a labyrinthine journey bereft
of logic and real comment.

As far as I can ascertain, Mr Akerman has decided that cannabis cautions,
regardless of their potential benefits, can be neatly moulded to fit his
usual attack on those who are "soft on drugs".

Akerman dismisses the arguments for the scheme as mere "rationalisations"
or poor substitutes for "spending more money emphasising the truly horrific
face of drug abuse".

With his emotive images of the "eagar pusher", evil pro-druggists and our
perpetually innocent and impossibly ignorant children, Mr Akerman drags us
into his personal fantasy land.

Ken Russell
North Wollongong

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)