Letter: Making Drug Legal is
Just a Responsibility
Source: The Sentinel
Date: January 21 2008
Author: Alun Buffry
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In his letter published on January 11 (Madness to legalise drug) Mr Pye quoted me from a
speech I made when I asked: "Is there any justice in punishing me or you,
if the child or teenager has developed mental health problems?"
Well, Mr Pye, is there?
If you think there is,
please let us know what it is. Would you support a policy of arresting and
prosecuting people who like a drink of beer or wine at home because some people
have become alcoholics, or suffered mental illness? Would you just arrest them
all, even though they have harmed nobody? That appears to be the policy you are
promoting about cannabis.
It hasn't stopped the so-called cannabis disasters.
In fact they have all occurred under the legal regime Mr Pye continues to
support.
Furthermore, because cannabis is controlled largely by organised crime, it is
contaminated with all sorts of chemicals, and we don't know what they are.
Legalisation does not mean giving a free hand to people to grow and sell
cannabis willy-nilly (like most already do).
It would allow people the opportunity to operate under the regulations of law.
Legalisation means Government acknowledging its responsibility to protect
citizens - including cannabis users, as they protect people who choose to drink
alcohol - so long as they behave.
Mr Pye is wrong to say I do not care. It is because I care that I campaign for
legalisation - because I firmly believe that cannabis legalisation would reduce
harm overall.
The laws against cannabis are not helping the vulnerable or those who suffer
through its use, and I have great sympathy for them - but please give a thought
to those people who are given criminal records, even sent to jail, even though
they personally have had no involvement in anyone being harmed.
Those people who have done no harm are sons, daughters, parents etc, of others
too, and to sit and watch them pay a high price for their private choice is
also heart-rending.
ALUN BUFFRY Stoke-on-Trent
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