Letter: Purchasing pot over the counter

Sir: I was a youngster when the British Raj came to an end in 1947. There were licensed drug shops all over India at that time. The addicts could buy marijuana, cannabis or opium over the counter. I don't remember seeing any rush of customers at these shops. They used to get a customer now and then whereas there were always customers at the off-licences selling drinks. The addicts were looked down upon by society. Perhaps that is why not many people got into the addiction of drugs.

Yours faithfully,

J. S. LEHRANT

Liverpool

10 January