I was quite saddened to see how many pro-cannabis comments there were following the recent article regarding the police closure of a drugs factory, “Police uncover colossal cannabis crop in Hendon”, www.times-series.co.uk.

Being from a working class background, I have seen people whom I knew from school more than 27 years ago, whose lives have been completely destroyed from this so-called harmless drug. Two people I knew very well, who were heavy cannabis users, ended their own lives, the most shocking was a friend at school who was only 15 years old at the time.

Most of the people I knew from school, who were smoking cannabis at the time, are now heroin addicts and have never had a job since. Many have chosen crime rather than employment.

Cannabis wrecks young people’s education and careers, as this drug give you a low attention span which makes it impossible to reach your full potential.

I think after 30 years of watching people’s lives fall apart, it gives me some right to warn others. The police have done a great job stopping this drug getting on the streets, now it’s time for the judicial system to toughen up the law and impose harsh sentences.

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