Tracknum: 5222.4.1.20050327134950.073f8838
Pubdate: Sun, 27 Mar 2005
Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK)
Contact:  http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/
Address: 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, Scotland
Fax: (+44) 0131 226 7420
Copyright: 2005 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.	
Author: Jane Kirby
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

'NO TORY SPLIT OVER CANNABIS RE-CLASSIFICATION'

The Tories' policy chief today denied the Party was split over the issue of 
re-classifying cannabis.

David Cameron, who originally backed calls for the drug to be downgraded 
from Class B to C, admitted the issue was "slightly awkward" for him.

He said there had been disagreements in the past but the Conservatives 
stood firm on reversing current Government policy.

Cannabis was downgraded to Class C last year, placing it alongside anabolic 
steroids and prescription antibiotics.

"The Conservative Party's had a very clear view for a long time about 
cannabis, which is that it shouldn't be reclassified from B to C," he told 
ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby Programme.

"This is slightly awkward for me. I'd sat on the Home Affairs Select 
Committee that suggested this should be, so this is an area where I've had 
in the past some disagreements.

"I was on the Select Committee that looked at this issue and we thought on 
the basis of the science that that (re-classification) was right.

"On the Select Committee we looked at a range of evidence.

"I'm now in the Shadow Cabinet. I accept the collective position."

Mr Cameron, who is head of policy co-ordination, insisted the Tories could 
not be accused of inconsistency.

"The Conservative Party consistently argued that it was wrong to 
re-classify from B to C. The Government has now apparently changed its mind.

"I think there is a case for saying cannabis should have been 
re-classified, there's a case for saying it shouldn't have been re-classified.

"What there isn't a case for doing is what the Government's doing, which is 
actually flip-flopping all the time and changing its mind.

"That sends the worst possible signal, and I think the one thing you cannot 
accuse the Conservative Party of is inconsistency on this issue."

In 2002, Mr Cameron said he hoped the Home Affairs Select Committee report 
which he backed would "encourage fresh thinking and a new approach" on the 
issue.

He added: "We need to get away from entrenched positions and try to reduce 
the harm that drugs do both to users and society at large."