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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Teenage spliffs and an issue of leadership
Daily Mail
Monday 12 Feb 2007 So what?' said Home Secretary John Reid when asked about the revelation that David Cameron once came close to being expelled from Eton for smoking cannabis. And some may think that is the grown-up and sensible response. After all, the news hardly comes as a great surprise. During the Tory leadership contest, Mr Cameron's refusal to say whether he had taken drugs led many to assume he had indeed indulged. And should it matter now? His assertion that politicians are entitled to a private past is persuasive. If teenage indiscretions were a bar to high office, precious few members of any party would qualify. Yet his admission - or non-denial - raises more questions than it answers. Did Mr Cameron learn his lesson at the age of 15? Or did he continue using drugs? The one assurance he has given is that he hasn't indulged since becoming an MP, six years ago. But before then? Just as pertinent is his political stance. Five years ago, he was one of the committee of MPs calling for a dramatic relaxation of Britain's drug laws. They wanted to downgrade lethal Ecstasy and set up 'shooting galleries' where addicts could use illegally purchased heroin, without fear of arrest. And they backed Labour's crass plan to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug. 'I hope our report will encourage fresh thinking,' said Mr Cameron then. But it is now widely accepted that the softening of the cannabis law was a disaster. Not only is the drug today being sold in a stronger and more dangerous form, leading to greater addiction, but it is known to cause serious mental illness. At least the Tory leader acknowledges his part in this terrible mistake. He wants cannabis restored to its class B status. But while he deserves some credit for his willingness to think again, the message isn't getting through. Are voters remotely aware of his new line on cannabis? Don't they still have the impression that he is somewhat ambivalent in his views on harder drugs? Mr Cameron may have some interesting ideas on a harm reduction strategy, which would steer addicts towards medical treatment. But why doesn't he stress the need for tough legal sanctions too? The tragedy is that so many junkies are destroying their lives and blighting whole communities through crime. We badly need unambiguous leadership on drugs. Is that what David Cameron is providing?
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