Source: Letter in Daily Mail, UK

Date: 12 January 1998

Author: Ann Clarke

TIME AND MONEY

I am appalled at the amount of time and money being spent deciding whether or not to prosecute a person for an offence involving a harmless plant - cannabis.

By now it should be clear that cannabis is remarkably safe. This has been confirmed by every major government and scientific investigation.

Our laws are meant to protect people, not impose the will of the Government on its citizens. Recently it has banned beef-on-the-bone - which, like cannabis, has been declared dangerous. Yet known poisons and dangers such as mercury fillings, pesticides, pollutants and food additives are legal.

Let's get the matter straight. The act of Jack straw's son in supplying cannabis hurt nobody (except possibly the pride of his father).

The only victims will be the lad - a victim of a nonsense law - and the public who will foot the bill.

Ann Clarke

Norwich