Letters:

The true facts on cannabis

I WAS somewhat disappointed to read the comments made by the Rev Brian
Boyd, of the Presbyterian Church's alcohol and drugs education committee,
concerning any future possible legalisation of cannabis ("Church firm
against cannabis" (Oct 18 Belfast Telegraph).

Rev Boyd states: "It is right that cannabis should remain illegal, because
of its dangers." I would be interested to hear from Mr Boyd exactly what
danger he thinks cannabis poses.

It is a non addictive drug. It does not, contrary to claims of many, lead
on to the addiction to other drugs. All the serious international research
has debunked this suggestion.

Cannabis, unlike that legal drug alcohol, does not make it users behave
violently. Indeed, it has just the opposite effect.

There has never been a recorded death that can be shown to be directly
related to the intake of cannabis. As the US Drug Enforcement Agency's
(DEA) own law judge wrote in 1988: "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one
of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."

Whilst not wishing to sound as though I am pouring scorn on the admirable
work done by the Presbyterian Church's alcohol and drugs education
committee, might I suggest that Mr Boyd gets his facts about cannabis
straight?

MARTIN COOKE, Co Leitrim.