Madam, - Fair play to Gay Byrne for his honest remarks about legalising drugs ( The Irish Times, February 26th).
In the coming election, if prospective justice ministers really believe in the current policy, then let's hear them put their careers where their mouths are. Let them promise to resign if their proposed policy doesn't lead to a reduction of heroin-related deaths and a reduction in the number of heroin users.
The drugs issue is primarily an issue of economics. High demand, illegality, plus short supply equals high profits and heavily armed thugs willing to kill for those profits. Such is the money involved, we could jail every drug dealer tonight, and they would all be replaced in months if not weeks.
If any prospective justice minister thinks that we can defeat the drugs problem with "tough measures" without massively reducing the demand for drugs then he or she is a fool. - Yours, etc,
JASON O'MAHONY, Coppinger Glade, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
Madam, - There is no denying that there is a huge market for cannabis in Ireland. All that is being achieved through its illegality is that major criminals are making money, which is funding the import of more serious drugs and fuelling gang wars.
Cannabis has been available in Ireland since the 1970s and, considering that 40 per cent of Irish teenagers have smoked it, it seems there will continue to be a market well into the future. Cannabis has bad effects, but everything from fast food to alcohol has major health implications if taken to excess.
As a 17-year-old second-level student I can honestly say that cannabis is more accessible than tobacco. I think it is time the Government woke up to this after 40 years of failing to prevent its import and started to make sure it is coming from a safe and legal source. - Yours, etc,
JOHN MICHAEL MAHER, Herbertstown, Naas, Co Kildare.
Madam, - Yet again, we hear Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny calling for random drug-testing in schools and for young people. Why just young people? Why doesn't Mr Kenny lead by example by calling for the same standards among adults and for random drug tests among Dáil deputies - or at least introduce them himself amongst Fine Gael Oireachtas members? - Yours, etc,
JOHN HEDGES, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.