GOVERNMENT NEEDS DRUG WAKE UP CALL

I was surprised by the letter from Angela Watkinson, MP for Upminster
(Enquirer, 18 Sept) regarding the new guidelines on powers of arrest
of cannabis users.

She reiterates the "gateway theory'" regarding cannabis leading to
harder drugs. I am saddened by this lady's obvious lack of. knowledge.
Government research has concluded the gateway theory is a myth.

Whilst most hard drug users have cannabis prior to their hard drug
use, the majority of cannabis do not progress to hard drugs.

The gateway is caused entirely by the prohibition of all drugs,
meaning that dealers will have available a selection of drugs
including cannabis

Cannabis needs to be legalised and removed from this
process.

A properly regulated and quality controlled supply would bring in
large revenue to the exchequer; it would break this chain of
association with hard drugs, and ultimately lead to a reduction in all
drug use, over time. This is exactly what happened in Holland when
they decriminalised cannabis use.

The government needs to wake up to reality and deal with these issues
properly; until it does I'm afraid the problem will not go away.

Steve Clements Via email