William Armstrong says decriminalising cannabis has been a disaster for the
Netherlands. The opposite is true. The Dutch experiment of separating the
hard and soft drug markets has been a success in reducing the harm caused
by drugs.

A Dutch government report, Drugs Policy In The Netherlands, which analyses
drugs policy pursued throughout the European Community over the last 20
years, compares rates of drug use and addiction between countries. It says
that Holland has the lowest rate of heroin addiction in Europe, the oldest
addict population, and the lowest level of HIV infection. It also has lower
levels of teenage cannabis use than countries which prohibit its sale.
Apparently, the "coffee shops serve a useful social function for young
people, by acting as a buffer against the criminal underworld associated
with hard drugs".

Unlike Mr Armstrong, I am not appalled that the Church of Scotland is
considering legalising cannabis. If Scotland had coffee shops there would
be less harm caused by drugs.

Stuart Young
Portland Place, Edinburgh