Contrary to William Armstrong's assertations, the Dutch policy of
toleration is highly successful. Levels of drug abuse are far lower in the
Netherlands than in many other European countries with more repressive
policies.

The situation there is certainly far better than that in Scotland. The
Lancet recommended the adoption of Dutch policies in the UK in an editorial
last year, and many other countries are examining the Dutch model with a
view to emulating its successes.

The chief medical officer of Copenhagen recommended recently that Denmark
should allow Dutch-style cannabis coffee shops and even go further by
having a state-owned system of cannabis production and distribution.

The German state of Schleswig Holstein is to open a pilot programme of
legal cannabis sales this year. Legalisation is proving to be a policy that
can bring illegal drugs under control. It is a policy that could be adopted
with great advantage by Scotland and then, perhaps, Scotland's drug
problems will drop to the level of those in the Netherlands.

John Yates
Jaktvagen, Ekenas, Finland