Letter from Julian Brazier MP, July
2006
Thank you for your letter dated 3rd
July, regarding my views on the arrest and prosecution of those claiming to use
cannabis for medical reasons.
I think I have said before, I take the view that any
tolerance of illegal drug is a quick fix that can lead to many more problems
than it creates. A United Nations report recently said that cannabis is
considerably more potent than a few decades ago and that it was a mistake to
dismiss it as a "soft" and relatively harmless drug. It is said that
the harmful characteristics of cannabis are no longer that different from those
of other plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroine. The Government's
seriously confused course of action on cannabis has led to chaos and confusion
in the enforcement of drug laws. This in turn has led to a continuing failure
to reduce this dangerous threat to lives.
With regard to its supposed medical benefits, i have never
subscribed to this view, and the medical evidence suggests that it can cause
great damage both to the lungs and the brain.
I am afraid we shall have to agree to agree to disagree on
this.