Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jul 2001
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 2001 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454
Author: Stewart Tendler

MOWLAM CALLS FOR CANNABIS TO BE LEGALISED

Pro-Cannabis campaigners were given a double boost yesterday when Mo 
Mowlem, former head of the Government's anti-drug policy, called for it to 
be legalised and her senior adviser agreed that he could be wrong about 
links to heroin or cocaine Their comments came on the eve of the launch 
today of a police trial of softer enforcement of the law on possession of 
cannabis. Users in South London will have their drugs confiscated and get 
only an official ticking-off. Dr Mowlem, writing for a Sunday newspaper, 
said that the sale of the drug should be legalised to take it out of the 
hands of criminals and a tax on the drug would help to pay for the 
treatment of all addicts. She described the present practice and debate 
about cannabis as a farce and attacked a legal lottery in which some courts 
treat possession as serious and others do not.

The former minister, who said last year that she had tried cannabis at 
university, said: "What I am concerned with is the hypocritical and 
confusing situation we are in at the moment.

"From my time with the Government's drug policy I have come to the 
conclusion that we must decriminalise cannabis. It is a view I know that 
many in the police, social workers and others working with cannabis smokers 
fully agree with," she said.

Police forces were divided about what to do about the use of the drug. 
Parents were also divided, she said.

"Many parents I know ask their children to smoke -- if they are going to -- 
at home so they don't get caught. Other parents lecture their children on 
the dangers of drugs with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the 
other," she added.

She said that Holland, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland took a more 
relaxed approach. There were also differences within Britain. "If you live 
in an area where the police do not enforce the laws for small amounts and 
your parents adopt the view that it is better to know what you are doing, 
you are less likely to get into trouble."

She called for an inquiry into how to decriminalise the drug. Dr Mowlem 
said it would be "totally irrational to decriminalise cannabis without 
looking at the sale of it" adding: "It would be an absurdity to have 
criminals controlling the market in a substance people can use legally."

Her comments came as Keith Hellawell, Britain's first so-called drug czar, 
said that he had softened his view that cannabis was a "gateway drug". The 
phrase is used to suggest that users try cannabis and are then tempted to 
try stronger drugs. Mr Hellawell, who has been sidelined by David Blunkett, 
the new Home Secretary, had based his view on research from New Zealand. 
But at the weekend he said that he now felt the issues were more complex.

Dr Mowlem's and Mr Hellawell's comments appeared yesterday as Scotland Yard 
prepared to start a scheme in Brixton today which could radically change 
the enforcement of drug laws on the streets. Under the scheme, which will 
be studied by Mr Blunkett, police will not arrest suspects for possession 
of cannabis. Instead they will confiscate the drug for destruction and give 
the suspect an official warning. Normally, London officers arrest and 
caution for possession of the drug. The warning will be held locally on 
police records for three years and the details will not have to be declared 
for job references.

Commander Brian Paddick, in charge of police in Brixton, said it can take 
up to five hours to process someone arrested for cannabis possession. Yet 
the defendants would be fined only UKP20 to UKP50. He said that his policy 
was different from the Dutch approach, where possession was tolerated. He 
said that users users not be allowed to keep their drugs.
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