NOT THE SOFT OPTION

I respond to Liam Bartlett's column "Dopy debate helps nobody" (TST, April
13), particularly the last two paragraphs: "The Government argues it is on
the right track because under the new laws cannabis will remain
illegal. But when it comes to explaining how the changes will make life
better, they are not (according to Liam) convincing..."

Firstly, the Opposition has an ethical problem. During the WA Community
Drug Summit, it said it would support the summit's process and
decisions. The police supported the summit's thinking on cannabis.

The messages to young people from the proposed changes will be:

* They can be honest in a classroom or family discussion without being
seen as a criminal
* If they are experimenting socially a lifelong criminal conviction is an
over-reaction
* If they use too many drugs because of emotional problems, society wants
to alleviate those, not add to them

The Opposition must stop claiming the new law is "soft on drugs" and look
at who is being soft on the criminal black market and soft on police
corruption.

BRIAN TENNANT, Subiaco