YOUR VIEWS ON THE WREATH-LAYING CONTROVERSY JUSTIFIED DESPAIR OF USERS

It is true that your columns are regularly used to give readers a
balanced opinion of on the issue of the legalisation of cannabis
(opinion, June 4) and I congratulate you for it. it is, indeed, a
"legitimate campaign".

I admire the sensitivity of Mr jack Girling of the CLCIA who canceled
the wreath laying ceremony so as not to offend the feelings of war
veterans.

But we in turn should remember the justified despair of those who wish
to use cannabis/marijuana for physical and mental health and
well-being, who are persecuted, imprisoned and ostracised for their
beliefs and lifestyle.

Is it any wonder that a "link" is made between these people and the
people that Hitler and the Nazis wanted to have removed from society,
the Jews, the Gypsies, disabled and those of different religious and
spiritual beliefs

Anne Clarke Norwich

LIVES, LIBERTIES LOST IN DRUG WAR

Although I think it was the right decision, I'm sorry the wreath
laying ceremony did not go ahead. Nobody wants to offend the memories
of the war veterans, but the war on drugs is costing people their
lives and liberties from the poppy fields of SE Asia to the inner
cities of the UK.

A letter has been handed into the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan,
signed by thousands of international signatories including, from
Britain, judge Anthony Tibber, Colin Blakemore (president of the
association for the advancement of science) Edward Ellison (ex-head of
Scotland Yards drug squad), the Bishop of Monmouth, Ian Sparks (chief
executive of the Children's Society) and MPs Paul Flynn, Austin
Mitchel and Brian Iddon.

They point out how the war on drugs is not only lost, but is causing
more harm than drug use itself could ever do.

As the letter to the UN says: "UN agencies estimate the annual revenue
generated by the illegal drug industry at 400 billion Dollars, or the
equivalent of roughly 8% of total international trade.

This industry has empowered organised criminals, corrupted governments
at all levels, eroded internal security, stimulated violence and
distorted both economic markets and moral values"

Worth a wreath to my mind

Derek Williams Norwich

GESTURE BY YOUNG PEOPLE APPRECIATED

As chairman, and on behalf of the members of Norwich and District
Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association, I write to express our
appreciation for a gesture made at Norwich war memorial by some of our
younger people.

As is now our custom, we veterans gather at the war memorial on June
6th each year (the anniversary of D-day) to pay homage to those of our
comrades who were killed in the Normandy landings and thereafter.

Following the unfortunate controversy that arose a day or so earlier
this year, it is indeed heart-warming and encouraging to find already
placed on the war memorial a large bouquet of flowers dedicated with
thanks to all veterans from "The youth of Earlham".

it is all too easy and perhaps customary nowadays to criticise those
of our younger generations, so it is therefore all the more gratifying
to be able to say to these young people a sincere and grateful
thank-you for what you did.

We, in this branch of the Normandy Veterans Association, devote much

time and effort, especially through our schools visiting team, to put
across a message of the futility and waste of war and the vital need
for reconciliation.

It is indeed comforting to know that there are very many of our
younger people, largely unsung, who do care, who do think about wider
issues and who do consider others. We salute them

LJ Bennett Sprowston Norwich

Checked-by: (trikydik)