Pubdate: Mon, 2 Feb 1998
Source: Evening News (Norwich UK) 
Contact: MUM SHOULD NOT BLAME DJ FOR SON'S HEROIN HABIT

Sirs,

I sympathise with the "Norwich Mum" whose son took heroin after taking
cannabis (DJ puts worried mother in a spin : Evening News Jan 27). But what
has that got to do with Howard Marks' DJ stint at the Waterfront?

Mr Marks may well have been a cannabis smuggler but he has also served far
more time in prison than his crime deserved, even the massive scale it was.
To suggest that Howard Marks "controlled 10% of the world's cannabis supply"
is absolute nonsense - there are millions of tons of it growing all over the
planet, much of it wild.  To blame him for her son's heroin habit is
illogical, to say the least.  To blame cannabis makes about as much sense as
blaming tea or coffee.  It is more likely that the illegality of the two
substances and the dealers' profits helped lead him from one to the other.
But cannabis and heroin are two different substances entirely.  

Whereas heroin addicts almost every user, cannabis addicts only those with
personalities likely to addict them to almost anything.  

Heroin is poisonous and overdose can cause death, whereas cannabis is
non-toxic and has never been directly blamed for one single death.

Hard drugs are a particular nastiness in today's society, and the forces of
law seem unable to effectively deal with the problems which under
prohibition, are worsening.  

Howard Marks speaks sense, and, as the Norwich Mum suggested, many young
people may consider him to be 'cool' 

He is certainly in a position of authority to speak about cannabis - and
yes, if cannabis was legal it would be 'fine' to take it.  

It is a well-accepted fact that cannabis is more beneficial and far safer
than alcohol, tobacco and most prescribed or over-the-counter medicines. 
The problem with cannabis use is the law, and the gateway to profit that the
law opens for dealers.  

Sincerely,

David Barker, Norwich