Subj: UK: Blair to declare war on cannabis



Date: 13 Feb, 2000



Source: The Independent on Sunday







Blair to declare war on cannabis

By Jo Dillon, Political Correspondent



The Government is to tighten its policy on the way police

and the courts treat cannabis users. The move will put the

Prime Minister and the Home Secretary at odds with the

"drugs tsar", Keith Hellawell, and Cabinet enforcer Mo

Mowlam.



Tony Blair and Jack Straw are determined to end the system,

highlighted today in an exclusive survey by the Independent

on Sunday, which allows police and magistrates in some areas

almost to turn a blind eye to pot smoking, whilst in other

areas tough sentences are imposed.



Despite pressure from Dr Mowlam and Mr Hellawell who both

advocate greater tolerance of cannabis use, the Prime

Minister, who has pledged to take a personal interest in

drugs policy from now on, wants government policy to

emphasise that possession of cannabis remains illegal.



Mr Blair is understood to share Mr Straw's view that

decriminalising cannabis would muddy the waters in the

Government's campaign against drug abuse. Dr Mowlam and Mr

Hellawell will meet the Prime Minister on Wednesday to

discuss drugs seizures and policy. Mr Blair's intervention

is a clear admission that the Government's drugs strategy

has not been effective.



Ministers are also privately admitting that there is a

substantial difference of opinion over how cannabis should

be dealt with. A ministerial source said: "There is a

difference in emphasis between what Mo and others are saying

and the view in the Home Office, where it is felt that to

enter into a debate about changes to the law on cannabis

would not send out the right message. It could confuse our

efforts to deal with the use and supply of harder drugs like

heroin and cocaine." The source also admitted: "The policy

on drugs hasn't worked across Government. We haven't worked

across departments as we should. But there are steps being

taken now to change that."



Ministers from the Treasury, the Department of Health, the

Cabinet Office, Home Office and Foreign Office are now

meeting regularly. Mr Blair's pledge to play a direct role

in drugs policy is a clear indication of the commitment to

end the disarray.



The move towards a harmonised system of policing cannabis

use will be carried out in consultation with the police. New

sentencing guidelines are also likely in an attempt to iron

out inconsistencies between forces on a range of offences,

including traffic violations.



But Mr Hellawell told the Independent on Sunday that police

efforts should be focused on more harmful drugs. "I don't

support the legalisation or decriminalisation of cannabis,

but the police must be allowed to use their discretion. Each

case must be judged on its merits."