IT beggars belief that Tony Blair has recommended drug testing in schools as part of the Government's anti-drugs policy.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. It will destroy parent/teacher trust with pupils, increase truancy as pupils try to avoid testing and further erode individual's rights.

The USA experience has proved that this draconian measure has no effect on drug use at all.

When will our MPs face up to the failed prohibitionist policies and start talking sense for the future? Hard drugs are a significant problem in our society; changes in law are required to help reduce these problems, not increased prohibitive measures.

The much hailed zero-tolerance regime in Sweden has led to a fourfold increase in drug-related deaths since 1995, now resulting in the highest death rate per capita in the whole of Europe.

Solvent abuse kills more people than all other illegal drugs put together, yet these are readily available in every corner shop. What do our politicians believe they are doing?

The only way forward to help reduce future harm and deaths from drug use must be to close down the black market on cannabis, provide legitimate outlets with quality control, and de-mystify what is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.

The continued destruction of people's lives through criminalisation of the uses of this plant will continue to introduce many young people to a criminal market offering many dangerous and adulterated substances.

Steve Clements,

The Legalise Cannabis Alliance,

Church Street, York.

Updated: 10:13 Monday, March 01, 2004