It might be of interest to our readers to note the recent emergence of a general movement in mainstream UK media towards the legalisation of cannabis. It was triggered by the publication of an independent report compiled by the House of Commons library. According to this, cannabis users cost the UK #790m a year on police courts and prisons and police chiefs have warned against wasting police resources by cracking down on soft drug users.

It is understood that the report also examines the potential for revenue-raising. It argues that, assuming the drug were subject to the same levels of taxation and duty as currently paid on cigarettes, revenue would rise by #1 billion, suggesting a gain to the public purse of #1.6 billion a year. Not bad!
Incidentally, the findings also challenge the assertion by Jack Straw that cannabis is more carcinogenic than tobacco. There is as yet no epidemiological evidence for an increased risk of lung cancer , say its authors, though they add that, as with tobacco, it could take 20 years to establish a clear link with cancer.
Both the Independent on Sunday and The Observer devoted considerable space to this issue and to arguing for legalisation. In the UK, a third of the shadow cabinet and one member of the cabinet, a Health minister and 20 MPs have come clean and said that they used cannabis. Many even said they inhaled! In this they are joined by about 10% of the UK population. Incidentally, Queen Victoria quite openly smoked cannabis. Just thought you d like to know!
Francis Wilkinson, former Chief Constable of Gwent is quoted as arguing for complete legalisation of cannabis. The Chief Constable of Cumbria, Colin Phillips, said he would turn a blind eye to someone smoking at a party. Keith Halliwell, the UK drugs czar, said that police should focus on more harmful drugs and suggested that people should be able to use their discretion .
It is not just a matter of criminalising otherwise law-abiding people, of course. The present (criminalising) regime also damages lives and wastes public resources. Some suggested that decriminalising and/or legalising cannabis might also cut down on street violence.
Well, who knows?
Meanwhile, we also read that the supreme council of the Knights of Columbanus was warned by supreme knight Niall Kennedy that Irish society is fast approaching its decadent phase, or may have already reached it.
Excellent! About time! But this is not to belittle the list of symptoms he gave. Nobody condones stupid street violence. But, given that hash might cut down on public aggression, would the Knights support the call to legalise it?