THE Rev D G Griffin writes as though the policy of prohibition achieved an element of success (You Say, July 8).

It did not. Both in the case of alcohol and other insidious substances, the result of legislation was to create market conditions in which a practically worthless commodity could be sold at a tremendous profit.

Those who operated in such a market were able to place themselves beyond the reach of the law while employing minions to take risks and promote their profits.

Consumption of the forbidden substances escalated rather than diminished.

Inducement

Decriminalisation, in itself, can do little for those already caught up in this web.

But, in destroying market conditions, much of the inducement is removed, thus eliminating the primary source of glamourisation and temptation for others.

I'm pleased to see that a generation of clergy has arisen with a better understanding of human nature than seems to have been the case in the past.

Leadership rather than dogmatic compulsion is the way forward.

JOHN HINTON,

Victoria Avenue.

Worcester.