Pubdate: Wed, 25 May 2016
Source: Herald, The (Glasgow, UK)
Copyright: 2016 Herald & Times Group
Contact:  http://www.heraldscotland.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4784
Author: David Stubley

WHERE ARE THE BRAVE POLITICIANS NEEDED TO DECRIMINALISE CANNABIS?

I AGREE wholeheartedly with David J Crawford in his exhortation to 
government it should decriminalise cannabis (Letters, May 23).

What did the war on drugs achieve? In the US the prison population 
has increased by 500 per cent in the last 30 years due almost 
entirely to drug convictions. In the UK a large number of people now 
have a criminal record for merely possessing a very small amount of 
the drug. Vast amounts of money and violence have been the result as 
the criminal element took control of the supply chain.

Yet it will not be easy to persuade governments to decriminalise drug 
as they have not worked out a way to apply duty. Also, as the war on 
drugs represents a significant portion of police funding, they are 
likely to be vociferous in their opposition to any change in the law. 
The results of decriminalisation of drugs in various parts of the 
world have been shown to be very positive. I am not persuaded we have 
politicians courageous enough to grasp the nettle.

David Stubley, 22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.
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