LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I have survived a malignant brain tumour against all expectation and am
sure that my use of cannabis has helped considerably. Any sense of moral
superiority on the part of those opposing decriminalisation evaporates with
the realisation that the additional tax revenue could clear the National
Health Service waiting lists in a matter of a few years.

Name supplied, Lancashire


Cannabis should not be "decriminalised". It should be legalised and
regulated. The market in cannabis seed, the most nutritious food in the
plant kingdom; seed oil, the brightest of the lamp oils and a viable fuel
for motor vehicles; hurds, from which paper of finer quality than that from
tree pulp may be made; and fibre, from which may be made low, medium and
highdensity fibreboards, fibreglass substitutes lighter than but as strong
as steel, insulation, stuffing and a host of other products, is restricted
at present because of the difficulty in obtaining a licence to cultivate
the plant in the UK.

As it is, the quality of cannabis is variable and it is difficult to get
hold of. If it were legalised it would be much cheaper and the Government
could tax it. Some of the revenue raised could be put into educating
children to treat drugs responsibly.

If cannabis were removed from the Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Act
tomorrow, therealready exist laws and regulations which, if enforced, would
prevent many dangers. For example, driving while unfit through drink or
drugs is already an offence with a minimum oneyear disqualification.

Cannabis should be available at the offlicence or down the pub, sold by
people who have already been determined by JPs to be fit and proper people
to sell alcohol; from pharmacists who can give general advice to people who
wish to try it for insomnia, rheumatism, arthritis, back pain and the
myriad other ailments for which anecdotal and scientific evidence indicate
that it is efficacious; and, of course, on prescription from one's GP.

J Henry Trumpington, Barrister, Staple Inn Chambers


We grow our own (organically) every year and it's fab. Cannabis is one of
the most rewarding plants to cultivate, responding almost instantly to food
and water. It's attractive to look at and seems to be resistant to most
common pests and diseases. We smoke and cook with it, happy that we aren't
contaminating ourselves with God knows what chemicals. I've never
experienced anything like the horrors of an alcoholinduced hangover after
a spliff session. An excellent campaign keep up the good work.

JM, Cambridge


The current law classifying cannabis with barbiturates and other
potentially lethal drugs as a Class B drug carrying corresponding legal
sanctions up to 14 years' imprisonment for supplying is absurd.

With about onethird of adults still smoking tobacco, young people taking
up the habit in droves and over a million people estimated to be either
alcoholic or in danger of succumbing to alcoholism, we should be asking
some basic questions about our society's attitude to drugs.

If everything is left to politicians, partypolitical point scoring often
prevails, prejudice dominates and hard facts are ignored in favour of
pandering to "public opinion". Politicians believe there are no votes in
adopting any position on the drugs issue other than "Just Say No".

A Royal Commission on Drug Use would take the matter out of the
partypolitical sphere, examine the issues objectively and make
recommendations based on facts and common sense. Will the control freaks at
the heart of this government allow it?

Paul Clein, Liberal Democrat councillor and pharmacist, Liverpool


In my work as an evangelist, I continually meet people who regret the day
they ever touched cannabis, and who are still living with problems of mood
and memory, even though they no longer use it. I think human nature is not
strong enough to deal with drug use, particularly when it comes to giving
up, and we should therefore push back the cannabis trade rather than giving
it free rein.

Jeremy Legg, Bournemouth, Dorset