The Gray Monk

I'm afraid that it's time for both politicians and the public to get their heads out of the sand. The use of cannabis is so widespread that any attempts to further criminalise its use will be completely futile! I believe that we are now trying to adopt the same stance with such drug use as that which was used during prohibition (of alcohol). Society realised then that it would not go away, and instead chose to accept its use with appropriate safeguards (licensing).

Now, however, we have the government tinkering about with the problem (again). Know this - by re-classifying cannabis to a class 'B' drug again will not reduce its consumption , nor change culture or attitudes one jot! It's simply political posturing: ''Oh, look - we're doing something about it''!

The focus has been on the harmful effects on the young, and rightly so. What about the effects of alcohol? I would argue that they are as bad, if not worse; but to focus on that would expose the hippocracy of allowing one harmful drug to be socially acceptable, whilst proscribing another; and raking in loads of tax in the process! As I said, we are burying our heads in the sand, and we need to look at this from a different angle.

Slimjim I find myself in sympathy with some of what you say regarding alcohol, but I would add tobacco to the list. However, I disagree on the point that marijuana (or whatever else you call it!) is on the same level of harmfulness as alcohol. Alcohol does not cause permanent damage or changes to the users brain from a single dose - unless that single dose is on the scale of being almost lethal to begin with.

The problem with the cannabis on sale today is that it is a genetically enhanced version which has no "safe" single dose limits. Especially for young people. Like you, I do believe that this is not a problem that will go away with further tinkering with the law - it needs some serious action which will need to include a complete and radical change of cultural mindsets which find drug abuse acceptable in cafe society.

Drug usage needs, once again to become a "pariah" sport - and the penalties for supplying in any quantity have to be made really meaningful and very painful!

'Alcohol does not cause permanent damage or changes to the user's brain from a single dose' - I'm sorry, I had to read that twice! Try telling that to the legions of battered women or the families of victims of drink-driving (cause? Alcohol!). With respect, dear Monk, I think you have fallen into the same trap as many people have regarding the effects of cannabis. It tends to have a calming effect (yeah, man!), but can be a problem if mixed with other drugs. Any drugs cocktail can be potentially dangerous. The fact is that there has not been enough research about the use of cannabis, and we only ever seem to hear about the negative consequences. Don't forget that the active constituent (tetrahydrocannabinol - THC) has been proven to relieve the effects of MS and other diseases. Perhaps if our MPs were given liberal doses of the stuff, the governance of this country would improve!

It would be interesting to know the real effect of the 'Lambeth Experiment' you mention. Did it really encourage more cannabis use? Or did it simply bring out into the open those people who previously carried out their habit out of sight? I honestly believe that the motives behind this policy were pragmatic - it's something that won't go away no matter how much it is re-classified or criminalised. Perhaps the police did have more time to do things like catch real criminals. Or fill out more paperwork, or lecture people for having an opinion that goes against the PC grain (that's politically correct, not Police Constable!).

Slimjim, I doubt very much that we will solve this between us and pointing to alcohol or any other "drug" which is "legal", and arguing that accepting cannabis or cocaine is in use and giving it the same status, will not solve the problem either. We need an informed, thoroughly researched solution based on a complete understanding of the full impact of the drug on the human barin and system.

The drug users now being found in the Lambeth experiment suggest that downgrading the drug has created the impression among many younger people that using it now carries no penalties at all - and the "medical user" case is far from proven. In fact the overriding impression gained from the data thus far collected is that the effects experienced by such users are "placebo" effects and have no real medical benefit.

I think the jury is going to stay out on this one for some time, but, as usual, the politicians and civil servants have gone for an easy solution to a very complex problem - and got it wrong in spades!