Readers write, Mr Acting Editor, and a few of them had a lot to say about last weeks’ column about the debate over legalisation of cannabis. Here are excerpts from some of the comments, all of which can be found on www.royalgazette.com

LIVING IN PARADISENONBELONGER

The facts are clear — that marijuana simply does not deserve to be lumped in with truly dangerous substances which debilitate and harm people.

In every jurisdiction where marijuana has been decriminalised the effect has been positive: a lessening of the criminal element involved in the trade and a substantial reduction is wasting police officers time having to deal with this fairly minor offence.

I shudder to think of how many Bermudians have been made criminals for a bit of weed.

DAVID J SULLIVAN JPDELAEY ROBINSON

I will continue to ask the obvious. I, like most rational thinking people understand the cry for decimalisation for users of “small” amounts of marijuana.

Indeed, I even understand the arguments for possession of “small” amounts of marijuana to be a misdemeanour or less ... where do small amounts of marijuana come from?

Or as was so aptly put by another ... in order to have small amounts of “legal” marijuana I have to purchase it from someone who has a ‘large’ illegal amount.

We certainly have moved on, the people that is. The government, and politicians with quite rare exceptions, still seems to have its head well buried in the sands of ignorance and uncaring. Like most social change in conservative places, it comes very slowly but it inevitably comes ...

Attitudes however will not undo the harm drug laws have wrought ferociously on the fabric of our society by destroying opportunity for the individual, one at a time.

Nor will changed attitudes even assuage the fears of people that they or their loved ones associated with the drug may one day indiscriminately fall victim to the damaging drug laws.

FAITH

Knowledge is power and the lack of knowledge is control. In the age of information people no longer have to rely on what they are told to know it’s true. They can find out for themselves and folks are finding out that they have been lied to about the dangers of cannabis.

THOMAS L MAHONEY BV

Personal freedom of choice should champion all other reasons for its legalisation.

It is ridiculous for our ‘boys’ to go on the cruise ships and fine the visitors for the joints and similarly to fine someone for something that is so natural.

AL EASTMOND RAYMOND JC RAY

It’s the politicians that are not listening ... but keep calling for the community to weigh in ... from time to time..... just to appease. The debate (debates) has already happened and is still happening ... just stop and listen ... and then ... act.

It will be a tremendous boost to our economy if it were to be legalised (say possession of 28 grams for personal use) that will without a doubt create a booming tourist trade aiding all that cater to tourism.

CIVIL LIBERTY BDABLACK

Re-legalisation needs to happen. The drug war as practised in any other place has done untold [sic] harm to society. While society debates men will die.

The time has come for a push for total ABSTINENCE! This push for the use/misuse of marijuana is senseless.

DELAEY ROBINSONA word of caution, prohibition has had many unintended consequences ...

Today there are much stronger varieties of cannabis and varieties where the ratios of different cannabinoids have been altered.

There is strong evidence that some of these more potent, altered, varieties can have undesirable consequences on young still developing brains, leading to psychosis.

This is not so much a panic note as a cautionary one to help reduce the incidence of cannabis induced psychosis in the youth.

There were also emails, splitting 50/50 for and against legalisation/decriminalisation, sending me references to material in support of their positions.

I now have a lot of reading to catch up on, Mr Acting Editor, but I welcome the interaction.