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Letter: Cannabis doesn't lead to hard drugs

Alun Buffry, Legalise Cannabis Alliance

Evening News, Norwich

Wednesday 12 Jun 2002

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CANNABIS DOESN'T LEAD TO HARD DRUGS

Norwich coroner William Armstrong seems adamant that cannabis use is a
"gateway" to hard drug use.

This is despite evidence to the contrary from both the Home Affairs
Committee and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reports, and
the opinion of almost every expert in the field (A gateway to harder
drugs?, EN, 7 June)

Most people who use heroin "started" on cannabis.

Well, actually they probably "started" on alcohol, or even drugs from
the doctor, or maybe even getting giddy as a child. Most armed robbers
"started" on water pistols. However, most children who used water
pistols never became armed robbers. Likewise most cannabis users do not
slip into hard drug addiction.

At last the Government is beginning to dismiss completely the so-called
gateway theory and at last they are beginning to recognise that
treatment is better than punishment.

The sooner that it realises that legalisation of cannabis would help
break the link between it and hard drugs, the better for all of us.

Legalisation of cultivation of cannabis at home would be an incredible
beneficial step.

The gateway is the profit-motivation created by prohibition.

Some of the dealers who sell hard drugs may well tempt their customers
by also offering cannabis. Some of those customers may experiment; some
may get addicted; some may even die.

That is the cost of prohibition and the dreadful stance that has thrown
all these substances into the same basket.

Alun Buffry
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
PO Box 198
Norwich

 

 

 

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