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UK: Labour crows over Conservative cannabis hash
Reuters
Tuesday 10 Oct 2000 Subj: UK: Labour crows over Conservative cannabis hash Source: Reuters Date: Tuesday, 10 October 2000 Labour crows over Conservative cannabis hash LONDON (Reuters) - The government twisted the knife into opposition Conservatives on Tuesday over their rapid U-turn on a planned crackdown on soft drugs but it showed no inclination to consider decriminalising cannabis. The Conservatives, hoping to capitalise on a resurgence in opinion polls, last week unveiled plans for instant fines for possessing even small amounts of the drug and criminal records and court cases for repeat offenders. Police, the public and even members of the Tory party howled at home affairs spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, the author of the scheme, forcing her leader William Hague to step in and back down even though she claimed he cleared the policy. "The extent of the shambles inside the Conservative Party is extraordinary," Labour Party Home Secretary Jack Straw told BBC radio. "Within less than a week of having cleared this policy ...William Hague has completely abandoned Widdecombe. What it shows is they are unfit to govern." Hague said the policy would go out for consultation. Up to six million Britons have smoked dope, authorities estimate. Tory MPs feared Widdecombe was planning to criminalise them all. In an amazingly candid display, eight members of Hague's front bench admitted to smoking dope in years gone by -- a clear snub to the hardline Widdecombe. The latest, agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo, even admitted to liking it. In stark contrast, government ministers have kept very quiet. Cabinet Office minister Mo Mowlam is on record as having dabbled. Straw said he never had. Prime Minister Tony Blair and his aides are delighted at the row within the Conservative Party, which has clouded its recent comeback in the polls and taken the spotlight off public anger at the government over sky-high fuel prices and a paltry increase in the state pension. GOVERNMENT LOOKING AT MEDICAL BENEFITS Straw said the government was testing drugs based on cannabis compounds to see if they could help in the treatment of diseases like multiple sclerosis. If the results prove positive, he would look at decriminalisation in that specific area. But he dismissed campaigners' arguments that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol. He said doctors and psychiatrists say the "weed" can exacerbate mental illness and cancer in the long term and was carcinogenic. If it was legalised, consumption would increase fast, raising the prospect of damage being done. Two former police chiefs called on Monday for legalisation to help stamp out harder drugs. Straw agreed to the extent that the focus had to be on hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. But with an election possible within seven months, even Labour MPs who favour decriminalisation, such as Paul Flynn and Brian Iddon, admit there is no chance of ministers grasping the nettle any time soon.
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