IT WAS very encouraging to read the letter from two senior Conservatives (Citizen Letters, January 17) who have publicly lent their support to Chris Davies, Liberal Democrat MEP, in his efforts to highlight the injustice of the law on cannabis.

When a leading Tory like John Bowis MEP, who five years ago was the minister in charge of the nation's health, described the situation as "absurd" then clearly the ground is shifting.

This is not entirely new.

Conservative frontbench spokesmen last year deliberately undermined Ann Widdecombe's call for stricter laws by not only admitting that they had used cannabis themselves but also that they had enjoyed it! Perhaps this is part of the Conservative's 'new thinking.'

In the 1920s alcohol was prohibited in the USA, the result was an explosion in crime and drunkenness.

Prohibition seems to be having a similar effect in Britain.

Despite 40 years of harsh legislation we have become the drug capital of Europe.

Huge sums of money are made by criminals and the millions of recreational users are offered little protection from harm by adulterated drugs.

Majority medical opinion accepts that the effects of cannabis are no worse than alcohol or tobacco, its users are certainly less prone to violence than those who drink.

In the Netherlands cannabis has been legally available through licensed outlets for nearly 20 years and not only has the use of hard drugs by citizens in that country fallen significantly but even cannabis use has reduced.

I know that this is an outcome of a reform in drugs policy, which would be welcomed by Chris Davies, and is surely one which would be welcomed by most other people too.

Ms Pam Fearnley

North West Liberal Democrats