Sir, – It may not be popular, but it needs to be said – the sentencing of Pat Scanlan to 15 years in prison for importing 4.8kg of cannabis is monstrous ("Restaurateur jailed for 15 years for importing cannabis", Home News, May 21st).
The merits or otherwise of cannabis can be debated; what is absolutely certain is that its criminalisation has done nothing to diminish its popularity, and it has been freely available in Ireland for over 40 years. It has remained popular because people who use it know it is not in any way equivalent to heroin or other hard drugs. A sentence of 15 years is completely out of proportion to the crime committed, and in due course will come to be seen as barbarous. – Yours, etc,
EOIN DILLON,
Ceannt Fort,
Mount Brown,
Dublin 8.