Published Letter: Cannabis is not a hard drug and does not kill
Source: Evening News, Norwich
Date: May 10 2007
Author: Alun Buffry, Legalise Cannabis Alliance
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Norwich police are congratulating themselves for "seven successful raids in
Norwich alone over the past fortnight resulted in 11 arrests and the seizure of
about 2,000 cannabis plants": ("Police pledge to end drugs
misery", Evening News, 7 May)
The drugs misery referred to appears to be "the latest Government figures
show that during 2005, 60 people in the county suffered drug-related deaths - a
rise from just 34 in 2003.", mentioned in the same article.
I fail to understand what drug-related deaths have to do with cannabis plants? Not one single person In
Norfolk or anywhere else has died due
to a cannabis plant!
What will these raids achieve? The police hope it will disrupt the supply,
yet that has never happened in the past. What it is doing, if anything, is increase potential profits for
importers of possibly contaminated
cannabis like the "grit-weed", covered with ground glass of all
things, that has cropped up across Britain since the police started targetting
cannabis growers - a massive threat to health.
And where and when supplies are disrupted, many may turn to drink and / or hard
drugs that DO KILL.
All that at massive cost to the public. Just think! If cannabis was
legalised, it would separate the supply from hard drugs, enable consumer
protection and quality control, as well as accurate, credible advice for users.
AND, not only would it save the taxpayer millions, it would also raise revenue
through taxation on profits. Everyone will win.
Alun Buffry
Legalise Cannabis Alliance