As Newsletter Editor of the British Carbon Group (a group co-sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics and the Society of Chemical Induustry) I was very interested in the article on graphene that appeared in The Times today. It was very well-written and accurate, things one cannot take for granted in the media today alas, and I wondered if I could reproduce it in whole or in part in our next newsletter.

We did have a research meeting on advances in graphene science a few months ago in which the leading groups gave their latest results, so this will not be a surprise to our members but carbon doesn't always make the press like this, so it would be good to make something of it.

N. D. Parkyns, Hemel Hempstead, UK

If drugs mimic our own ability to heal ourselves, perhaps that is why they are "illegal". We need a medical/phamaceutical environment. Or rather, Governemnts need their support. If we did not suffer why would we democratically fund "research" through state funded medical quackery?

Nicholas Alexander, Auckland, New Zealand

Alas, it is worse than you think.

Unfortunate medical research has unearthed the distasteful finding that smoking tobacco is actually very good you once you are old.

It seems to improve brain function, suppressing the onset of Altzheimers and enabling you to remain alert. See the NHS Blog Doctor for details.

You may have heard it here, but modern methods of suppressing reasearch mean you won't hear it anywhere else!

T Massingham, Gloucester, UK

I like this statement not only because Im on pension but
also of the contribution pensioners may make and make
to take away the ravels of the present society.

Ian Gral, sulechow, poland

The drugs debate is continually warped by the inclusion of cannabis alongside heavy-duty narcotics. In terms of risk to the user, cannabis has been ranked as less harmful than alcohol, so it is a total misnomer to mention it in the same breath as heroin. Nobody needs to break into houses to fund their next spliff.

As has been mentioned, Skunk is nothing new, often prohibitively expensive for kids and if we are worried about more potent formulations of intoxicants, shouldn't that also include vodka and absinthe?

Simon Clark, London,

I was diagnosed with M.S. when I was 42 years old. I am now 58. I've tried several drugs that are so called designed for this disease and none have worked for me. If Sativex has been helping patients with M.S. in Canada and other country's, then why is the United States continuing to drag it's feet on the subject . I think that the U.S. needs to stop being such a Prude. I think that after suffering with this terrible Disease for more than 15 yrs now, I deserve a chance to ease the pain and suffering as much as possible so that I can live a more comfortable life.

Dan Lesley SR., Watauga, Texas

Terence Kealey says that 'smoking spliffs might — just might — help sufferers from multiple sclerosis'. In fact there is very little doubt that cannabis can be extremely beneficial to some MS patients, but 'smoking spliffs' may not be the optimum method of administering this valuable medicine. Therapeutic Help from Cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis <www.thc4ms.org>, which claimed to have supplied more than 1,000 MS patients before its organisers were convicted in December 2006 of Conspiracy, incorporated cannabis into chocolate bars. A British company called GW Pharmaceuticals has developed a medicine called Sativex that's licensed for the treatment of MS in Canada, which delivers the cannabinoids in the form of a sub-lingual spray. Surely the time for equivocating over the medicinal benefits of cannabis is past and patients who may derive benefit should be given access to this versatile and natural medicine as a matter of urgency?

Russell Cronin, London,

sirs, your assertion that cannabis is stronger today is factually innacurate.

skunk cannabis has been around since the 1970's, the media created hype of 'super strong' skunk is just that, media hype.

steve, York, uk

Whilst I applaud any news article which brings the attention of the public to the many medicinal benefits of cannabis, could I just halt you a second on one point of your argument. As you will have heard numerous politicians, and your journalist colleagues, telling the public that 'super strong skunk' is 'up to 40 times stronger' than 'when they were young' I can't blame you for thinking it is correct and basing your final statement upon it. It is, however, completely false. There is no evidence available showing any true strength increase in the cannabis being found in the UK today. I am a Cantheist Minister so I would not expect my word alone to be accepted on the subject of cannabis but I'm quoing the government.
Parliamentary-Under-Secretary of the Home Office, Caroline Flint, stated in reply to a question on this subject in the House of Commons .. "The evidence of our forensic science unit is that the cannabis that it has sampled is not stronger than it was some years ago."

Rev. Paul Farnhill, Manchester, UK