IN the midst of all the hot air expended on the subject of the use of cannabis either for medical or recreational reasons, I wonder just how many people actually know why it is illegal (“Half the cabinet have smoked dope, claims MP”, The Herald, June 20). Most would associate its use with drop-out hippies in the 1960’s and the youth of the great unwashed and fear it is a foot on the slippery slope to using “hard drugs”.

The reality is that, although it had been available for centuries without cause to have its use debated in Parliament, it was criminalised under the Dangerous Drugs Act in 1925 essentially to harmonise UK law with that of the 1925 Geneva international Convention on Narcotics control. Subsequent legislation has been a response to the increasing popularity of the drug, despite its prohibition, the supply chain of which accounts for a substantial portion of criminal activity in the UK.

I see the prohibition of cannabis both as a medicament and socially as an infringement of an individual’s human rights by a government that has no right to do so. If the prohibition is to prevent harm, why is alcohol not banned for the same reason as it has a much worse track record? Legislation that was originally spawned by the religious dogma and economic concerns of the ruling elite in Egypt and Turkey generations ago is a blight on our current society.

Why is it that, when our Parliament is supposed to be the flag-bearer of enlightenment, it is still shackled by antediluvian mores when society accepted the change years ago. The sheer hypocrisy of the situation is summed up by the fact that, earlier this year, Victoria Atkins MP, Home Office Minister, was accused of having a conflict of interests as her husband Paul Kenward is managing director of British Sugar, licensed to grow non-psychoactive cannabis.

David J Crawford,

85 Whittingehame Court,

1300 Great Western Road, Glasgow.

AT least the good Lord Hague is moving with the times, unlike some of the Tory dinosaurs. The legalisation of cannabis is long overdue as the war has long been lost and our prisons are full to bursting with non-dangerous prisoners. There is much more misery caused by alcohol, even more than with hard drugs.

There seems little evidence that cannabis smokers automatically move onto hard drugs, even less evidence that someone “on” cannabis is ever aggressive; something that cannot be said about alcohol abuse. Politicians who remember the 13-year shambles in the United States that was Prohibition, where gangsters ruled and more alcohol was consumed than before the legislation, should take note.

More enlightened countries are legalising recreational cannabis and reaping the benefits of extra taxation raised. It makes no logical sense not to follow suit in the UK. Unfortunately, as long as we have politicians who are still in the 19th century, we will never progress. These same MPs are the ones who think that the Empire will return one day and Britain will again become master of the seas; in your dreams.

Ian Smith,

111 Dutch House,

Kilmarnock Road, Monkton.

NOTHING is sadder or more predictable than the old mantra “the NHS doesn’t need adequate funding, it just needs to cut waste and get rid of all the pen pushers” (“NHS needs to cut waste, not simply soak up more money”, Andrew McKie, The Herald, June 19).

No evidence is ever offered about where a certain number of administrators are not needed.

So, let’s stop doctors, nurses and the professions allied to medicine doing so much direct work with patients and make them take on human resources, financial accountability, procurement, health and safety and liaison with GP practices and pharmacists.

That will reduce patient costs and, of course, patient numbers as patients will receive less medical care.

Time after time the Tories have sent teams in to cut NHS costs and, by and large, the recommendation is for either more resources or practices that would be unsafe.

It is predictable and depressing that this old myth is bring rolled out again to protect an incompetent government.

Brian Fearon,

4 The Stables,

Harviestoun Grove,

Tillicoultry.

SMOKING, drinking and obesity-related illness costs NHS Scotland around £1 billion, double the annual £450 million windfall Nicola Sturgeon is expecting from Boris Johnson’s “Brexit dividend”.

I welcomed the Minimum Unit Pricing legislation and her attempts to ban smoking in and around council houses and social housing by using government fiat to insert clauses in tenancy agreements. Former president Barack Obama had a similar policy in the United States.

It’s a pity that First Minister has no power over private house mortgage or rental agreements which cover 67% of Scotland’s homes as some may see this as picking on deprived communities, which runs counter to the SNP’s fairness and equality agenda.

Allan Sutherland,

1 Willow Row,

Stonehaven.

STEPHEN Naysmith’s exclusive report about a senior Glasgow City Council social work manager advocating a policy that would force disabled people into residential care if their support costs became too expensive will send a shiver down the spines of many carers and family members who have adult disabled relatives who might well find themselves in this position (“Plans to force the disabled into residential care on cost grounds ‘breach human rights’”, The Herald, June 21).

I have respect for the members of Glasgow’s social care board who demonstrated their empathy with those less able by opposing these cruel intentions.

They understand the twin concepts of human rights and disability discrimination.

This policy must be taken off the table. The SNP elected leadership in the council must take a political decision to this effect.

It is that not long since Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council was demonstrating with other carers and me to oppose similar policies introduced by the previous Labour administration.

She needs to live up to promises made while in opposition and be judged by her actions at present on this matter.

Tommy Gorman,

17 Crosbie Street,

Glasgow.