Pubdate: Mon, 03 Jul 2006 Source: Press, The (York, UK) Contact: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/contactus/newsdesk/ Copyright: 2006 Newsquest (York) Ltd Website: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3111 Author: Steve Clements GOD-GIVEN HERB I appreciate Leo Enticknap's support (Morally Untenable, Readers Letters, June 27) for my comments on smoking, and his interesting points about making tobacco illegal. However, I'm afraid if that were to happen, then it would not decrease use or eliminate it. As with illegal drugs (and alcohol prohibition), it would hand the supply over to criminal gangs, leading to a dangerous supply chain with toxic tobacco mixes, gun and gang crime, just as we have with illegal drugs. A legal, regulated and controlled supply with correct health information is the best way to reduce harm from drugs, whether legal or not. I only wish it were possible to call to account the United Nations, which has again shown that it is purely a puppet of the US, and is willing to spout lies for a political agenda. As a cannabis user of 30 years, I can assure you that cannabis is no stronger now than 20 years ago. I would also suggest my health is above average and my mental health very stable. The General Assembly of the UN said in 1998: "Bold objective: the elimination or substantial reduction of coca leaf, opium poppy and cannabis cultivation by 2008." Afghanistan under US control has now had the largest poppy harvest ever. You figure it out. We are being lied to almost daily about drugs while corporate greed pushes junk food diets, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, salt, sugar and dangerous pharmaceuticals into our ever more reliant lives. I'll stick with the god-given herb, thanks. No law or any amount of lies will change that. No victim, no crime. Steve Clements, The Legalise Cannabis Alliance, York - --- MAP posted-by: Derek