Pubdate: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 Date: 10/21/2000 Source: Times, The (UK) Author: Christopher A Smith Authors: Christopher A Smith Note: The Times wrote the headline for these published letters. In your report, "Tests show pot is 'addictive as heroin'" (October 16), the researchers reach their conclusions because monkeys quickly learned to give themselves a "hit" and "became more interested in taking the drug" when the dose was increased. I'm not arguing either way about the legalisation of cannabis, but if you were confined for life in a cage, with an intravenous drip inserted into some part of your body, would you not regard regular "highs" as a welcome relief from your miserable existence? I would. CHRISTOPHER A. SMITH, 6 Glebe Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 0LZ.