Pubdate: 20 Aug, 1999 Source: Guardian, The (UK) Copyright: Guardian Media Group 1999 Contact: http://www.guardian.co.uk/ Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n867.a13.html Author: Danny Kushlick (Transform) HOW TO DEAL WITH DRUGS That Charles Kennedy's call for a royal commission has been slammed by both Labour and Tory parties is indicative of their political cowardice. A recent study in Holland showed that 2.5% of the population over the age of 12 had used cannabis in the last month, compared with 5.1% in the US. Dutch drug policy is far more successful than ours. The average age of heroin users in Holland is 39 and rising. In the UK it is 26 and falling. We can and should act now and we could do far worse than look to the Dutch as an example of best practice. Danny Kushlick Director, Transform - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder