Pubdate: Sat, 21 Mar 1998
Date: March 21, 1998
Source: Evening News (Norwich UK)
Author: Alun Buffry

I would like to congratulate North Norfolk Conservative MP, David Prior,
for publicly admitting that he smoked cannabis in his youth.

This comes at a time when a poll of new MPs revealed that 20 per cent of
them have tried an illegal drug.

Yet so far the number that have announced it publicly can be counted on one
hand.

To the rest I say come out, have no fear of an adverse public reaction, we
are behind you and support honesty.

The truth is that almost every adult in the UK has either taken an illegal
drug or known someone who has and not reported them.

We're all guilty of that.  And those who have not are usually busy smoking
cigarettes and drinking alcohol, probably with the occasional Valium thrown
in.

For a Government to ban a remarkably safe plant like cannabis, whilst
profitting from the trade in dangerous legal drugs like alcohol, is
hypocritical, to say the least.

To publicly support prohibition whilst concealing their own 'law-breaking'
past, is downright dishonest.

So let's have some more of the spirit of honesty shown by David Prior.

Let's hear from our MPs - have you taken an illegal drug and do you think
that taking such substances should be punished.

It is punishment that is the real issue of the question: Should drugs be
legalised?

sincerely,
Alun Buffry
Norwich