Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Over many years of professional involvement in the substance abuse field, my colleagues and I came to much the same conclusion as those described by P J Stewart (letter, 13 August).
The fact is that society has available to it a range of psychoactive drugs, all of which are potentially harmful and many of which are perceived by their users as beneficial. Experience on a massive scale, both here and especially in the US, shows that prohibition doesn't work and generates much crime and other social ills.
The solution could be to allow "tolerated" substances to be sold at low- profile outlets without promotion and with appropriate health information.
It is said that no government could move towards decriminalisation, because to do so would imply diluting the health warning. If alcohol, which can legitimately occupy a prominent place in this list, were included, it would show a wish to approach this difficult and ancient problem in an unbiased and logical way. This process will not eliminate all drug damage in society, but it could greatly minimise it.
JIM HILL
Chittlehampton, Devon
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments