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The dangerous,greedy campaign to legalise marijuana now has powerful allies on all sides of politics

by Peter Hitchens Mail on Sunday, posted 19 04 2020

In my view, it has never been closer to success here, and the pressing need to raise new taxes may bring that day even closer.

Well, before they fall into this trap, MPs and Ministers should listen to Professor Sir Robin Murray, one of this country’s most distinguished psychiatrists who had until recently favoured limited legalisation. But now that he has seen how this has actually worked out in North America, he has absolutely changed his mind.

Not only is he sure that the drug’s use is linked with mental illness, he now says: ‘I didn’t appreciate how big the cannabis industry was going to be.’

He compares Big Cannabis with the death-dealing Big Tobacco lobby which cynically used its wealth to defy health campaigners for many decades. He now fears that this ultra-rich pressure group will seduce our cash-strapped Government into giving way.

At any other time, Prof Murray’s intervention would have been big news. Don’t let it be forgotten.