Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jul 1998
Date: 07/13/1998
Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Author: Ken Russell

In a predictable response to the new Victorian cautionary system,
Piers Akerman (Daily Telegraph, July 9) leads us on a labyrinthine
journey bereft of logic and real comment.

As far as I can ascertain, Mr Akerman has decided that cannabis
cautions, regardless of their potential benefits, can be neatly
moulded to fit his usual attack on those who are "soft on drugs".

Akerman dismisses the arguments for the scheme as mere
"rationalisations" or poor substitutes for "spending more money
emphasising the truly horrific face of drug abuse".

With his emotive images of the "eagar pusher", evil pro-druggists and
our perpetually innocent and impossibly ignorant children, Mr Akerman
drags us into his personal fantasy land.

Ken Russell
North Wollongong