Pubdate: Tue, 14 Apr 1998
Source: Electronic Herald The (UK)
Contact:  http://www.theherald.co.uk
Author: Denis Campbell
Note: Discussion of these and other issues raised in the Electronic Herald
is welcomed.

TAKING POT SHOTS AT ILLOGICAL LAWS

CANNABIS is safer than either alcohol or tobacco. Says who - the lead
singer of Oasis? Some bunch of pot-smoking students? Or some trendy
legalise cannabis campaigners? No. Says the World Health Organisation,
actually.

Two months ago, New Scientist magazine published a leaked copy of a WHO
report which concluded that waccy-baccy does less harm than either the
demon drink or cigarettes.

While the last two are legal and readily available, cannabis is a
controlled drug, consumption or supply of which can land you in jail.
Logical? No. But the situation with cannabis in Britain is anything but
logical.

After alcohol, cannabis is undoubtedly the nation's favourite drug.
Millions enjoy it regularly and most available evidence shows very few
suffer any serious, lasting side effects. Unlike other illicit .

Clearly, the statistics reflect rapidly-changing attitudes towards the
drug. Privately, many influential people - such as MPs and police officers
- - believe something needs to change. Slowly, public policy is catching up
with the public mood. - Apr 14