CAN I reply to Brian Derbyshire's letter of October 31. I was wondering how long before he got round to me, and, low and behold, he has.

Brian Derbyshire uses as the premise for his argument 'alcohol' and 'nicotine' and he goes on with what he call statistics, which he says I have overlooked. No, I have not overlooked anything, I thought the debate was about cannabis. I know what alcohol and nicotine can do; it does not make cannabis any less of a danger.

Using Brian Derbyshire's analogy, I could say that alcohol and nicotine kills more people than those who drink household bleach; it doesn't make the bleach any less dangerous.

Mr Derbyshire says I go on and on about airline pilots, politicians, and doctors etc. He uses the analogy lager and Scotch, as against cannabis. He asks if I believe that they would be so irresponsible in general. No, but we have seen in the news media rumours of pilots using the pilots' bar before take off, and some politicians have admitted using cannabis in their youth. If the law was changed, some may do it again.

Large amounts of lager and Scotch are noticeable in a person's demeanour. Is it that way with cannabis? Is Mr Derbyshire so naive that he doesn't believe there are exceptions to the rules; they are only human, or does he want to add to the rules?

Mr Derbyshire says I am told cannabis is less dangerous. He had all the statistics on alcohol and nicotine, but on cannabis he is only 'told'.

Grenville Moore

Iris Avenue,

Harper Green,

Farnworth, Bolton.