Letter: Drug experiences from New York

Sir: A resident in my ward has multiple sclerosis. From reading an article in the Independent, he discovered that a cannabis cigarette at night relieved his distressing symptons and enabled him to get a good night's rest. The friend who gave him the cannabis has left the area and he has asked me to obtain some for him. I could do this through my son, thus making three people liable to a fine of pounds 2,500. His doctor can supply heroin to an addict, but not cannabis to an MS patient.

No doubt cannabis will be legalised in time. Meanwhile, why cannot doctors be trusted to prescribe it in cases of real need?

Yours faithfully,

BRIAN WILSON

Woodborough, Wiltshire

22 September