IS IT TIME TO RELAX THE CANNABIS LAWS?

The London police chief pioneering a tolerant approach to cannabis has said
that he is very pleased with the scheme.

Lambeth Police Commander Brian Paddick said the pilot project - under which
people found with small quantities of cannabis are let off with a warning
rather than being arrested and cautioned - should be continued.

He felt that the local south London community supported the scheme so much
that it was now starting to work with the police to fight more serious drug
and drug-related gun crime.

Mr Paddick's comments come after a government-commissioned report said
cannabis should be downgraded from a Class B to a Class C drug.

Do you feel that cannabis is a safe substance? Should it be decriminalised
completely? Or should the law remain as it is?

If we make cannabis legal, can we make it illegal to bore others to death?
Carla Lend, UK

I think that alcohol NOT cannabis leads to hard drugs. Ask any heroin
addict if they were drunk or sober when then first tried heroin 95% of them
would say they did it when they were drunk.
C, London, UK

If it's legal, and sold in shops along with cigarettes, users wouldn't come
in to contact with harder drugs. It's not smoking cannabis that leads on to
hard drugs, it's visiting a dealer who has hard drugs that leads to them. I
still haven't taken anything harder than cannabis in 15 years.
A smoker, UK

All drugs should be legalised so that they can be properly taxed and
controlled for health and safety standards by the government; moreover,
making the drugs trade legal would eliminate the culture of violence that
now exists around it and accounts for much of the crime in this nation.
People who are bent on abusing drugs will abuse them, regardless of legal
status; but this is a separate public-health issue, and we should treat
such people as we do alcoholics. Personal prejudices and hang-ups about
drugs should not get in the way of rational public policy.
Hugh Payne, England

Of course the laws should be relaxed. Any law broken by so many of the
people is obviously a bad law. Smokers do not harm anyone bar themselves;
why should they get a criminal sentence for it when drunks and
chain-smokers don't? Answer: The politicians smoke and drink to excess.
Alastair, England

I think cannabis should be decriminalised so it's easier to buy.
Daren, UK

Cannabis should be decriminalised to allow the police to catch the thugs
who smash up windows on their way home from the pub. And it would pave the
way for a greater understanding of those who take drugs. Does taking
cannabis automatically make you into a lawbreaking thug? I think not.
Everyone knows from the comedy programmes that it's a sociable and friendly
activity.
Richard J, UK

Decriminalise cannabis now. It is the least harmful of tobacco and alcohol.
Philip, Japan

It is not for the government or 'society' to tell me what I may or may not
put in my own body.
M.P. Marshall, uk

I think that there is no problem with legalising cannabis. There is more
violence, more deaths, and more accidents whilst on alcohol than on
cannabis. The only reason that alcohol is deemed 'OK' is because it is a
taxable drug! It doesn't lead to the use of harder drugs, that's just
narrow-minded people's views on a topic they have no idea about. I say
legalise it, it could be beneficial to many areas in life, not just in the
treatment of patients.
Marc, UK

Drugs are another social 'evil', just like alcohol and tobacco products. If
we had a society that didn't have any history of these 3 substances and
knowing of the associated numerous risks, we would surely never legalise
any of them. All drugs should be banned under one classification, and not
be pussyfooted around by the current administration. Users and dealers
should all face stiff prison sentences. I'm 22 and know hundreds of people
who have tried it. Some have done it once, some numerous times. Some have
gone into hard drugs, others never touched it again. To defend society from
the ravages these 'ills' create, we must ban all drugs full-stop.
Matthew R. Illsley, England

It is quite absurd to make drug taking an offence. Cannabis is clearly on
par with alcohol and tobacco. As for other drugs the supply needs to be
controlled and regulated and illegal suppliers need to be stamped out.
Graham, UK

I don't believe that the arguments about safety and decriminalisation
should be mixed. Smoking cannabis is still smoking, and carries long term
health risks. The active ingredients in cannabis can cause paranoia and
other side-effects with long term users. However, these risks are well
known and documented, and should not prevent the decriminalisation of the
substance. Alcohol is a far more socially destructive drug. It is legal.
Tobacco carries worse health risks. It is legal. In my opinion, failure to
treat cannabis (and other recreational drugs) in the same way as alcohol
and tobacco is rank hypocrisy. PS - I haven't used cannabis myself for 20
years, I don't smoke but I do like a drink.
John, England

I drink occasionally, but I am not an alcoholic, I also smoke cannabis
occasionally, and I am no junkie - I also indulge in sex, but this does not
make me a sex maniac, nor will it ever. I am in my mid 50's, I own several
shops, and I am a normal average tax-paying member of society. I have been
indulging in my 'recreational habits' since my late teens, with no
anti-social behaviour. I am sorry to have to tell the 'antis' that I am
actually rather boring and will never qualify for their ideal of a 'sex
crazed - drunken - junkie'.
Patrick B, UK

Yes, cannabis should be decriminalised. It seems ridiculous that someone
can be prosecuted who happens to have a bag of weed on him or her. It does
NOT cause violence as alcohol does, and there is no proven link between
cannabis and hard drugs. It is like saying that alcohol is linked to
cannabis, utterly ridiculous.
James Koranyi, Chester, UK

I think that it should be legalised because it would reduce crime and then
the government could make loads of cash out of it by taxing it (a little bit).
Alex B, UK