RIGHTLY, a furore has arisen over the unduly harsh jail sentence imposed on a cannabis trafficker in Hong Kong recently. Cannabis has never been shown to have directly caused a single death and has been proven to have been implicated in only a handful of indirect casualties. Cannabis is not physiologically addictive. Tobacco on the other hand, has been responsible for the deaths of millions throughout the world and the principal drug it contains is one of the most highly addictive substances known. Why, therefore, are tobacco companies allowed to operate and obtain huge profits from their much more sinister and damaging drug pushing activities, while someone who traffics in a far less harmful substance is jailed for 20 years? There is obviously a gross inequity in the law, once again reminding us of the difference between 'law' and 'justice'. GLEN WINES Sai Wan Ho
