WE work in Greater Manchester for a well-established charity, as part of their community support project. Much of our time is spent with individuals who have multiple sclerosis and who take cannabis in various forms.

Without doubt, the drug has a very positive effect on the quality of the lives of these individuals, in that it acts as powerful pain relief and relaxes excruciating muscle spasms. Because these people have to rely on outside services for personal and physical care, they are in the ludicrous position of having to be furtive within their own homes for fear of retribution.

Senior support staff are required to insist that staff abandon a patient if there is anything illegal going on. The knock-on effect of such a lack of vision is devastating for an individual who already feels devalued by society, especially when they are sitting in the supposed privacy of their own homes!

Chris Davies, one of the Euro MPs for the North West, has put his neck on the line to highlight the appalling situation which our laws on cannabis have created. We fully support him, and congratulate him for his foresight and vision.

MARY EDWARDS,

CRAIG BLYTH.