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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Letter: MP's Stand Over Cannabis Is Unreal
Don Barnard
Monday 18 Mar 2002 MPs' STAND OVER CANNABIS IS UNREAL Sir - Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell believes his Party's Annual Conference adoption of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance's Aims, and Proposals for cannabis control ("soft 'line on soft' drugs not ok") would give the party a "soft on drugs" name - a vote loser. He said he was against drug abuse and said: "A teenager is more likely to die from an Ecstasy overdose than being murdered by a complete stranger." This argument is fundamentally flawed. There is no authenticated recorded death directly attributed to cannabis use in the world. Tobacco and alcohol poisons and kill more young people than all the drugs currently controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Around 450 children in the UK start smoking every day and 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds regularly use tobacco - all obtained from illegal supply. The social cost of tobacco and alcohol in the UK is estimated to be at least £10 billion annually. Studies now suggest those who start to smoke tobacco at an early age are almost twice as likely to drink alcohol, and 3.5 times more likely to use cannabis than those who have never smoked tobacco. One could argue: maximum penalties for illicit possession and Illegal supply of tobacco involving children under 16. Giving Alcohol to under 5-years- olds, should be brought in line with penalties available for possession and supply of illegal drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. After all, not only are they dealers in socially harmful, addictive killer drugs - but they specifically target the young. However, I suspect this would be a much bigger vote - losing policy than legalising Yawnabbis which has never killed anyone. Get real Bob. Don Barnard
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