Pubdate: Fri, 04 Jul 2003
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2003 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Paul Waugh

DRUGS MINISTER SAYS SHE TOOK CANNABIS AS STUDENT

Caroline Flint, the Home Office minister responsible for drugs policy, has 
revealed that she once experimented with cannabis but stressed that its 
illegal status prevented her from taking it again.

Ms Flint, 41, who was appointed to her first ministerial job less than a 
fortnight ago, admitted that she tried the drug more than 20 years ago as a 
student. Her remarks came as Iain Duncan Smith pledged that the next Tory 
government would guarantee a drug rehabilitation place for every young 
addict in Britain. The Conservative leader promised a tenfold increase in 
the number of treatment places as he underlined his party's "tough but 
tender" drugs policy for the general election. Those who refused treatment 
would face jail.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, made clear his support for Ms Flint 
last night after her past drug use was revealed and insisted that cannabis 
would remain illegal.

The MP for Don Valley, who will oversee the downgrading of cannabis from 
class B to class C next year, admitted using the drug when questioned by a 
BBC reporter. Danny Shaw, Radio 4's home affairs correspondent, said: "I 
got the impression she didn't like it. She didn't like the fact that other 
people smoked it all the time. She said she was put off because it was 
against the law. She said that being illegal acted as a brake on her taking 
any more of it."

A Home Office spokesman said: "She was chosen because she is the best 
person for the job. Everyone has full confidence in her. The minister was 
asked if she had ever taken drugs. She gave an honest answer. She fully 
supports the Government's policy that cannabis should remain illegal. The 
Home Secretary is very supportive of her."

Mo Mowlam, the former cabinet minister in charge of drugs policy, admitted 
once smoking cannabis, and eight senior Tories revealed their own use of 
the drug after Ann Widdecombe proposed a crackdown on all users.

Under Mr Duncan Smith's ?482m initiative announced yesterday, the number of 
rehabilitation places for those hooked on heroin or crack cocaine would be 
increased from less than 2,000 at present to more than 20,000. Young people 
caught with drugs would be given a choice of either going to jail or 
accepting treatment in rehabilitation centres, most of which would be 
provided by community groups rather than the state.

In a speech in Leeds, Mr Duncan Smith also highlighted his party's pledge 
to put 40,000 more police on the streets, claiming that the extra officers 
will tackle not just serious crime but also vandalism, petty crime and 
antisocial behaviour.

"Crime is infecting our nation and hard drugs are making our condition 
worse. It's no longer good enough simply to contain the problems of crime 
and drugs," he said. "We have to defeat them. We want to give a fair deal 
for victims of crime, and a fair deal for victims of drugs."

Roger Howard, chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said the Tories' 
plans may prove prohibitively expensive. "Their original figures were about 
UKP147 per patient per day. In fact, for young people's treatment, the cost 
is probably over UKP300 per day. There are nowhere near enough treatment 
workers, nurses, doctors and psychiatrists available to provide the care 
that these young people will need."
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