Pubdate: Wed, 24 Oct 2001
Source: Eastern Daily Press (UK)
Copyright: 2001 Eastern Counties Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.ecn.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/131

THE RIGHT MOVE

In a move he insists is no stepping stone towards a Dutch-style model or 
decriminalisation by another name, the Home Secretary wants to reclassify 
cannabis making it no more "criminal" than anti-depressants.

While this will trouble those convinced that cannabis is often the first 
door to hard drug addiction, Mr Blunkett seems likely to get his way.

For cannabis as medical aid and acceptable leisure habit, its day is 
coming.  One persuasive statistic is that of 120,000 drug offences, 68 per 
cent were cannabis related, each taking up to three hours for the police to 
process.  this looks like a hammer to shatter a nut, and Mr Blunkett wants 
police time to be redepolyed towards hard drugs and their corrosive effects 
on individuals and communities.

Decriminalisers will be disappointed that he has not gone far enough, but 
Mr Blunkett surely has it right.
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