AGAINST: FIRST STEP TO LEGALISATION

"Myself and my husband Paul are completely disgusted by David Blunkett's
decision and we feel personally let down by the Prime Minister who made a
commitment to us to fight drug abuse on every level.

"The government is clearing the way to eventually legalise cannabis and
that would be catastrophic. We operate a drugs help-line and speak to
thousands of drug users and the reality is we have only ever spoken to half
a dozen heroin addicts who didn't start with cannabis. Cannabis introduces
teenagers and potential drug users to a certain lifestyle which can lead to
self-destruction. Cannabis also familiarises teenagers with the use of
chemical props as a stimulant and as the novelty of cannabis wears off for
the user, they will more often than not stray and use other, much harder drugs.

"The real trouble is kids get into cannabis use with their friends and some
can take it or leave it, but others get a real kick from it and become
semi-dependent. At this point their attitudes change, they can't get up in
the morning, they may even drop out of school or college and that is when
things can get really bad - that is when teenagers decide they need other
things and that means other drugs like heroin and speed.

"We have to stamp out this misconception that cannabis is just a little bit
of weed. It's not. It can be part of a long road to self-destruction."