Pubdate: Sun, 19 Oct 1997
Source: Independent on Sunday 
Contact: Email:  Independent on Sunday, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL
England
Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/sindy/sindy.html

OPINION

An open letter to the Government's new drugs tsar

CANNABIS CAMPAIGN 

Dear Mr Hellawell 

AT YOUR press conference to introduce yourself as the Government's new
drugs tsar, you were asked for your view on the IoS's campaign to
decriminalise cannabis. You replied: "The people who peddle these things
love these campaigns, so they can go into the playground and exert their
pressure on young people to get involved." 

I found your answer surprising and depressing. Surprising, because I would
have thought someone with your long experience of drugs enforcement would
realise that the effect of decriminalising cannabis would be to destroy the
underground activity of the cannabis dealer. 

Depressing, because you followed the line of the Government and the Daily
Mail in attacking our campaign, by linking cannabis to other harmful drugs.
We do not advocate the legalisation of all drugs, we do not say that
heroin, cocaine and Ecstasy should be freely available. What we do say is
that by decriminalising cannabis the "gateway" phenomenon, where people are
led to hard drugs because the dealer who sells them cannabis also offers
heroin, would end. 

You went on to say that cannabis was "dangerous". We agree that people who
have smoked a lot of pot should not attempt to drive a car  any more than
anyone who has drunk an excess of alcohol should. But who would you rather
meet on a Saturday night? A group of young men revved up on liquor, or a
group of young men slightly giggly after using cannabis? I am in no doubt
about the answer in my case. 

Surely, one of your first steps must be to bring the law into step with
people, especially young adults. Currently, some 3 million people use
cannabis in this country. There are no deaths, and virtually no damaging
sideeffects. Yet, on the same day you were appointed tsar, new figures
were released pointing to the alarming rise in drinkrelated violence. I am
sorry you did not see fit to make this comparison when you were asked about
our campaign. 

When I first heard your name mentioned in connection with the job of tsar,
I was optimistic. And, to check that I was not deluding myself I have taken
the time since your appointment to examine your own record in this area. I
was right: you were the first senior police officer to say that you could
foresee the legalisation of cannabis, on Panorama in 1994. You said: "The
legalisation I do see coming, after an understanding of the effect on our
society. I think the country deserves more information. What is the real
argument about cannabis? Is it habit forming?" 

But, immediately into your new job, you appeared to rule out any debate and
spouted the blinkered dogma of the Daily Mail. If you could read the
letters we have received, you would see that our supporters are
intelligent, informed and wise. They, like you, want a better society to
live in. They, like you, want everyone to uphold the law. 

For them, though, in one respect, the law has become an ass. They cannot
see what is wrong with using cannabis. They think more police resources
should be devoted to cracking down on dangerous drugs  drugs that actually
do kill and cause harm. They think more government effort should be made to
educate people about the different effects of drugs, informing them which
are dangerous and which are not. They would like you to make these your
aims in your new job. I look forward to your response. 

Yours sincerely Rosie Boycott Editor