Sir, Flying in the face of the advice given by the advisory council on the misuse of drugs, Gordon Brown has announced his intention to reclassify cannabis to a Class B drug (report, May 8). I find this approach somewhat troubling. Cannabis is undoubtably harmful to users; the real issue, however, is how we manage this harm.

It is well established that people will use cannabis regardless of its legal status. Prohibition merely deregulates cannabis by removing any chance of effective state contol of the drug. Use reduction can only be achieved through a controlled regulatory framework, coupled with a large scale education programme.

If children know that the Government’s warnings about cannabis are overexaggerated, they may safely assume the same of heroin or cocaine. This is the real source of the progressive gateway theory of drug use. Young people are more than qualified to see through a classification system that is utilised for “sending out signals” by posturing politicians playing to the gallery.

Aidan O’Brien
Rostrevor, Co Down

Sir, The Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales supports the reclassification of cannabis as a Class B drug. The downgrading of cannabis to a Class C drug sent out the wrong message, suggesting that cannabis was harmless and legal.

The production and supply of cannabis is often controlled by organised crime groups with associated violence, exploitation of vulnerable people and money laundering. Prolonged use of cannabis can cause psychotic conditions and is damaging to physical health. This has been exacerbated by the wider availability of stronger forms of the drug. Many heroin and cocaine users began their drug dependency with cannabis use.

Our association supports the reclassification of cannabis to Class B because it will send out a clear message, especially to the vulnerable and the young, that cannabis is illegal and can be dangerous.

Ian Johnston
President, Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales

Sir, The Government’s disregard of the advice of the advisory council on the misuse of drugs suggests that political expediency has prevailed. This is not surprising given the origins of the drug’s legal history.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the prohibition of cannabis in Britain. Only five MPs spoke on August 5, 1925, in the House of Commons “debate” on the Dangerous Drugs Bill. The Bill was presented as a tidying-up exercise that would allow Britain to meet its international obligations. Cannabis was not mentioned once. The House of Lords debate was notable only for Viscount Haldane’s comment that it was “impossible to form any judgment on the details of the Bill” and his plea that it “be taken by the House to a large extent on trust”. No British politician ever asked why our international partners wanted cannabis restricted.

Politicians did not know what they were doing when they banned cannabis in the first place and remain uncertain how best to tackle the drug today.

D. R. B. Bloom
London N6

Sir, Tobacco, with which cannabis is usually mixed, is not only highly addictive but also a leading contributary cause of many chronic diseases in later life.

If a more concerted effort were made to encourage the young not to start smoking then not only would it be a step forward to reduce tobacco addiction but also help to reduce the smoking of cannabis.

Keith Hamlett
Criccieth, Gwynedd

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