Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2000
Source: Colchester Evening Gazette (UK)
Copyright: 2000, Quicksilver Media
Contact:  43-44 North Hill, Colchester, Essex CO1 1TZ
Fax: 01206 508295
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Author: Louise Fuller

COLCHESTER: CALL FOR RATIONAL CANNABIS DEBATE

Colchester Councillor and ex-home Office Researcher Says Time is Right

A Colchester councillor who has spent 15 years researching cannabis has
said the time is right for an urgent debate on the issue.

Don Quinn, who has worked as senior research officer for the Home Office
and the Council of Europe, called for a calm and rational discussion.

The issue has been hitting the headlines this week with shadow cabinet
members, including Suffolk South MP and Tory agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo
and shadow transport minister and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin , revealing
they have experimented with the drug. Mr Quinn, Labour councillor for St
Andrew's Ward, said the debate was long overdue. He said: "Cannabis is high
profile at the moment and it is time we confronted the issue. There are
some vital issues that need to be dealt with."

Mr Quinn said it was essential that the laws surrounding cannabis were
cleared up. "Whether you are charged, cautioned or released without any
action depends on who catches you in possession of cannabis and where you
are. In short, it's a lottery.

"It is an obscene lottery which must be ended," he added.

After his years of research, Mr Quinn stands firm in the belief that
cannabis should be legalised in line with other European countries.

He said: "Messages about cannabis seem to veer widely between zero
tolerance Widdecombe and the notion that it is harmless. It's not
surprising that confusion reigns and the result is misery, fear and
thousands of unnecessary criminal convictions.

"There are dangers which need to be spelt out. We owe it to people to
explain the dangers in the same way as alcohol and tobacco. In an
hysterical atmosphere, the potential to assess dangers and the undoubted
potential medical benefits of cannabis are being lost."

Don Quinn claims the notion that smoking cannabis leads the user on to
harder drugs is wrong.

He said: "The simple fact is that nicotine and not cannabis is the
precursor drug for more than 90 per cent of all drug experimenters and
users. "My research in Europe clearly showed a huge statistical link
between young cigarette smokers and drug use."