I WAS both pleased and saddened after reading your lead article in last week's Okehampton Times.
Whilst I think the police should be applauded for their heavy-handed approach to class A drug dealers, it is evident that far from adopting a 'slap on the wrist' approach to cannabis use, the police seem to be using the same tactics on this, which in my opinion, and many others, is an entirely different problem.
Whilst just about every other police force in the country seems to be stepping back from prosecuting cannabis users it seems the police in this area are still applying the same criteria for all drug use, which may win some brownie points with the reactionary, head in the sand brigade, but does little to alleviate the problem of hard drug use.
It's similar to likening someone who takes a glass of wine with their dinner, and someone who is killing themselves by drinking two bottles of vodka a day , are both things to be deemed a drink problem?.
I wonder if the police think that crowing over the removal of £2000 worth of cannabis from the streets is really helping to tackle the problem of hard drugs.
I just hope that the judiciary has the courage to administer a 'slap on the wrist' to a local police force that brings a young person before them and expects them to be branded with a wholly unjustified criminal record.
I would add that I do not take drugs in any shape or form, I don't even smoke!
Terry Pritchard
Gideon's Barn
Bridestowe