Pubdate: Wed, 05 Aug 2015 Source: Daily Telegraph (UK) Copyright: 2015 Telegraph Media Group Limited Contact: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114 Author: William Wilson EFFECTS OF CANNABIS SIR Your article on the inherent dangers of legalising cannabis is a timely warning (Features, August 1). The groups lobbying for this drug to be decriminalised say that this may reduce usage. In the past they have also pointed out that the costs of nicotine and alcohol addiction to the NHS are much greater than those of cannabis although if the drug were legalised, the costs would presumably rise. But there is a fundamental reason why such legislation should not occur. Many people previously addicted to nicotine or alcohol can make a full recovery by abstaining; that is not always the case with other drugs. I have a young relative who for many years smoked skunk with its high tetrahydrocannabinol content. He suffers psychoses and other mental disorders from which he will not recover. This has blighted his life and the lives of his parents and wider family. William Wilson London SW11 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom