IT was sickening to read that Dr Brian Iddon, MP for Farnworth and area is still obsessed with legalising cannabis (BEN, October 5).

At the same time it was heartening to read that retired police chief Superintendent Don Carsley disagreed with his views at a public meeting organised by the Horwich Rotary Club at Rivington Barn, and that Mr Carsley won the debate.

Dr Iddon stated "there is no such thing as a safe drug, all drugs have side effects." So why does he pursue this dangerous activity, knowing the misery it brings to the drug taker and the public at large? He also said that the war on drugs is not working, so does he think by legalising cannabis that all will be well? Dr Iddon knows very well that the Government's research laboratories are working to extract the ingredient from the cannabis plant that relieves pain in some medical complaints. By continually stating how many people die from alcohol and tobacco smoking, he is masking the dangers of drug taking.

Maybe he should put his efforts into curbing drinking and smoking, after all both items are readily available in his constituency and are freely consumed by young people. Now that his views have been rejected, let us hope he gets down to the essentials like the Health Service problems and crime.

Christine Adams

Brook Street

Farnworth