Tracknum: 21403.002a01c049b0.45f61200.5959883e
Pubdate: Wed, 08 Nov 2000
Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle (UK)
Contact:  P. O. Box 47, Oldham, Lancashire, England  OL1 1EQ
Fax: 0161-652 2111
Website: http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/
Author: 'Sick Of Waiting'
Note: The Oldham Chronicle allows pen names as long the author 
provides a name and address.

CANNABIS SHAME

As someone who has benefited from the therapeutic use of cannabis, I 
was heartened to read in the Chronicle that there is increasing 
support from doctors for the medical use of this unfairly maligned 
herb. (3 November).

It is just a shame that the majority of our politicians, seemingly 
living in fear of being portrayed as soft on drugs, are not as 
enlightened on this subject as are our doctors and the general public.

Two years ago a House of Lords Select Committee recommended, on the 
strength of the available evidence, that doctors be allowed to 
prescribe cannabis, yet we are still years away from making this a 
reality due to government stalling tactics. In the meantime medical 
cannabis users are forced onto the black market to obtain a supply of 
this drug and must live in fear of arrest and prosecution.

Unfortunately I do not think that this situation will alter in the 
forseeable future unless our elected representatives are made aware 
that they will lose votes on this issue in the next election.

As a traditional Labour voter, I will not in future vote for any 
candidate that will not commit themselves to ending the unjustified 
charade of cannabis prohibition. Are you listening, Messr's Meacher 
and Woolas?

SICK OF WAITING