I WRITE in response to the petty, poorly researched, criticism of my involvement in drug policy reform in the letters page of September 18 from Mr Wright.

His opening remark is that I am asking for drug consumption rooms (DCRs) to "garner more SNP votes”.

I can assure him that seeking a more inclusive and health based approach to addiction is not a guarantee of more votes.

I have campaigned for better drug legislation for eight years and I shall continue to do so but I have never seen any evidence that doing so garners more votes. I do it because I believe it is the right thing to do. It is really no more complicated than that.

Let me address Mr Wright's points one at a time.

Decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use is a policy that, as part of a wider approach which has many facets, has been proven to help.

It is not a solution on its own, there is no silver bullet.

The drug policy that I seek to reform is the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act which was created by and can only be changed by the UK Parliament in Westminster. I address my issues to there as that’s where it can be changed and that’s where I was elected to.

On the topic of DCRs, Mr Wright is completely Mr Wrong.

The recent statement by the Lord Advocate of Scotland, that will have been made after extensive discussions with Police Scotland, will allow people to engage in a safe environment with trained medical personnel and receive clean needles, sterile water and have their drugs tested.

Having personnel on hand with Naloxone will dramatically decrease the chance that anyone will overdose.

That is why my office team have all been trained in the use of Naloxone and my office keeps a supply.

DCRs keep people alive so we can help them manage their addiction. The alternative is that they share needles, spread blood born illnesses including hepatitis C and HIV and eventually die.

This appears to be Mr Wright's preferred outcome.

His statement that I know nothing about the lives ruined by drugs could not be further from the truth.

I have been actively involved with organisations like Anyone’s Child, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, The Haven, Jericho House, and have, for years, listened to those affected by drug use by a family member, friend or loved one.

At Westminster I am co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Industrial Hemp & CBD products; vice chair of the APPG for Medical Cannabis under prescription, vice chair of the APPG on drugs policy reform and a member of the APPG on alcohol, drugs and justice.

I have, in my own time, visited DCRs in Lisbon, Oslo and Barcelona to better understand how their facilities work.

I have talked to the medical professionals, law enforcement agencies, politicians and clients.

This is not some half-hearted attempt at endearing myself to the electorate.

My desire to change the outdated and damaging 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act is driven by a desire for compassion and understanding regarding addiction, the causes and the cures.

Ronnie Cowan MP

Crawfurd Street

Greenock