HONESTY NEEDED IN CANNABIS DEBATE

Jackie Ashley (Cannabis is bad for you, but it's also impossible to
ban, July 30) wisely calls for better drug education and the need to
see cannabis use as primarily a health rather than legal issue. A
little more honesty from politicians might also help the debate.
Amazingly an increasing number of MPs admit to smoking dope a couple
of times, but apparently not one enjoyed it. Young people aren't
fools - they know from their own experience that recreational drugs
are, at least initially, pleasurable. People would hardly bother
taking them if they weren't. How hard is it to say "I used to enjoy a
spliff, but grew out of indulging and now have an awareness of the
health dangers unavailable then"? Honesty, coupled with sufficient
funding, makes for a far better drugs policy.

Dave Young

London