I am a longterm user who now cultivates small quantities of highgrade cannabis
for consumption by myself and paying friends. While I cannot say it has medical
benifits I have watched vicars with eye problems, disabled old ladies and
paraplegic athletes smoke. All have spoken of the benifits. What is closest to
my heart, having friends who suffer from it, is the possibility of providing an
aid to MS sufferers. My main concern regards the quality of hash being imported
to the UK. It is cut to increase its bulk and value. Most hash in this country
bears little resemblance to that in more liberated nations. I believe this hash
to be dangerous but, until our country controls the importation, people will
continue to use it, with who knows what longterm damage.

Name and address supplied.

I first smoked hash in London in 1966. Now, at 49, I am still branded a
criminal. In 1969 I was fined UKP 25 for procuring dangerous drugs. This
conviction still stands. Hash should have been decriminilised years ago. More
importantly, legislation would take copious amounts of money away from the
paramilitaries here. Both sides control the trade.

Thomas Sinclair, Belfast

I have taught for most of my life in inner city schools. About a quarter of the
fifth and sixthformers have smoked cannabis. Many smoke it regularly, often in
the family home. During class debates all have been clearly aware that alcohol
was the real problem for most of them. I recall one 15yearold girl poignantly
telling the class, "My dad never beats us up when he's only been smoking weed."
Continue with your stand.

Name and address supplied

I am a survivor from the ravages of alcohol. Cannabis has really helped me to
stay sober for eight years now. My GP would prescribe it if he could.

MA Kiernan, 47, Brighton

I rolled my first joint in 1968 and joined the campaign to legalize cannabis in
1974. I have been publicly ridiculed and humiliated in the tabloid press. I was
forced to resign over the issue, feeling that the ignorance of bigots has
triumphed. I am delighted the Independent on Sunday has started a much needed
debate.

Rev Neil D LeeAtkin.

I am a retired at 60, am teetotal and have smoked cannabis for 30 years.
Initially a GP friend recommended its use to combat migraines and it works a
vascular dilatant to counter vascular constriction. A large percentage of my
friends smoke but will not respond to your campaign for fear of being branded a
lawbreaker.

Lewis Pelham

I have advocated the decriminilisation of cannabis for many years. I am a
relative of a former heorin addict, the co founder of two centres for addicts
and I have appeared as a witness on Renee Short's [the Labour MP] Select
Committee on the drugs problem. Changing the law will require considerable good
fortune.

Patrick Monahan, FRCS, Surgeon

The European Union must have a serious and open debate on the issue your paper
has raised. Our policies of enforcement over prevention have cloaked reality
with hypocrisy, created criminals out of lawabiding citizens and paid
lipservice to the underworld. The time is right, as we approach the millenium,
for a reevaluation. Those who consume cannabis are exposed to an underworld
that promotes laboratory manufactured concoctions and dangerously addictive
drugs. A move in the right direction would be to decriminilise cannabis. It
would break the relationship between the drug dealer and the cannabis user. It
should be complemented by other proactive policies to deal with harddrug use.
We should treat users as persons with health problems rather than criminals. I
suggest we focus our efforts on educating younger citizens rather than hunting
them down as criminals.

George A Papandreou
European Affairs Minister
Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greece