Re: Prohibition doesn't work, December 16 letter.

I totally disagree with Mary-Ann de Kort who advocates legal cannabis use and sale.

I was a cigarette smoker and a nicotine addict for 35 years. During that time I changed the brand I smoked many times but never once bought a pack of cannabis, of which I am very grateful. The main reason being cannabis was and still is prohibited, and I could not buy it at the dairy or any other retail outlet.

I had many friends, relatives and workmates who also smoked cigarettes but did not know of any people who were addicted to cannabis.

My first ever experience with cannabis was in 1981 when a very bright printing apprentice and promising future tradesman did not complete his time due to not being able do things in his third year that he could in his first year, and younger workers told us older ones he was on cannabis.

My next experience was in the 1990s when I was a taxi driver in Napier and on the night the benefit was paid into bank accounts, young men would withdraw their money and go to purchase cannabis. It was sad to see, as I had known some of them for years. Often they had lost their jobs because of drug tests, but they thought the life they were living was wonderful. They thought that because they were users, it was in common use — but most of my passengers of that age were in employment and achieving things in their lives.

Although smoking is not healthy or socially acceptable, it never resulted in me losing a job.

Drug tests will continue whether cannabis is legal or not — so, New Zealand voters, please make sure that it is not easily available and we have more of the situation where there are young unemployed and vacancies that cannot be filled because of drug tests.

Tony Dobson