Julian Brazier and Cannabis: who regulates the sources?

Fierce Writing

A few weeks ago our MP made a number of statements regarding the controversial retailers UK Skunkworks after a young man, Matt Ford of Whitstable, almost died from the effects of smoking one of their products.

I responded by saying that while these legal highs are untested and potentially dangerous, some of our illegal drugs are relatively safe. I sent Mr Brazier a copy of the story.

Here is an extract from his reply: “I am told by sources I respect that cannabis is both a much more potent drug than its namesake of the 60s and 70s and that it is now one of the major causes of schizophrenia – as you know we have a worrying rise in mental illness among young people.”

This brings up a number of questions. Where is the evidence? If it’s true that there is a rise in mental illness among the…

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“Through the tunnel” by Doris Lessing

International english blog

Through the tunnel is a short story written by Doris Lessing, who is a famous author from Britain. She has won many prices; one of them is the Nobel Prize in Literature (2007).

Through the tunnel is about a young boy, Jerry, who goes to the beach with his mom on vacation. Here he sees older boys diving in the water, and he finds an underwater tunnel. His goal is to get through the tunnel, and in the end he achieves this.

I think the story is about growing up. Jerry sees the older boys dive in the ocean, and he wants to be like them. In order to do this he has to go through the tunnel, which is probably a metaphor for him growing up, and leaving his childhood behind.

I liked the story a lot, and I think this is because of how well-written it is. Doris…

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