SMOKE DOPE AND VOTE CONSERVATIVE

SIR - I was delighted to read Joe Muggs's informative piece on whether
or not dope is dangerous (Health, Jan 19). For a number of years I
have happily combined being a pothead with an international career in
classical music, three children and a major role (including twice
Standing for local councils as a local candidate) in my constituency
Conservative Party.

Cannabis has seriously enhanced my life, curing my asthma and reducing
my stress levels considerably.

We hear a great deal about this super-strength cannabis that is many
times stronger than it used to be. The implication is that this super
weed is taking over as the general smoke. In fact, only the lucky few
can find or afford it. I suppose one might consider it a birthday
treat or something along those lines.

The article also suggested that habitual users will buy whatever is
available rather than discriminating between varieties of cannabis,
and that this is a problem because different types affect one in
different ways. On my side of the fence that is comparable to
suggesting that a beer drinker will be unable to handle cognac because
he will drink it from a pint glass.

I consider myself lucky if there's more than one variety of hashish
available - and in my part of the West Country that's hashish of an
unknown origin called *dirt bar" because of its appearance. Grass is
much harder to obtain unless one knows a grower. Even then there's
rarely a choice. I would prefer to smoke grass if possible, because
there's no quality control with cannabis, and hashish is often
polluted by bits of plastic put in it to add weight for the vendor.

I have never witnessed anyone become violent due to cannabis; though I
have seen violent people smoking cannabis. Yet if you printed my name
on this letter, I would be identified as committing a criminal offence
and even if just cautioned would be unable to enter some countries,
such as Japan and America, in pursuit of my career.

When cannabis is eventually legalised, we'll all be winners: tokers
will get their quality control, the government can tax it and the
underworld will have lost a major source of funding. I just cannot
understand how it is possible to make illegal anything that one
chooses to do, so long as it causes no harm or distress to anyone else
and is done within one's own home.

Name and address supplied