LES Arnott appears to believe The Press readers are not very bright', in his letter (The real danger of smoking pot, July 15).

He is unaware, as is Professor Robin Murray, of the latest research presented to the American Thoracic society which states: "We expected to find the use of marijuana would increase risk of cancer. The scientists found that even those who smoked more than 20,000 joints in their lives did not have an increased risk of lung cancer."

The Advisory Council on the misuse of drugs examined all the available evidence and stated: "The consumption of cannabis is neither a necessary, nor a sufficient cause for the development of schizophrenia."

They went on to say: "Current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases the lifetime risk by one per cent."

Many things in everyday use all over the country can present a higher risk than that. I do not ever try to pretend cannabis is free from harm to all of the people all of the time, but for goodness' sake, any risks cannot be managed at all whilst it remains illegal.

That is your lie, and it is for political reasons. The Government doesn't give two hoots if drugs harm people, all they want is to create an impression that they are dealing with it to get votes. Not everything is black and white, Mr Arnott.

Steve Clements, The Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Asquith Avenue, York.