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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis will remain illegal, says tsar
The Guardian Wednesday 10 Jan 2001 His statement comes as a blow to supporters of drugs law reform, who had been hoping for a government about-turn on the issue in the wake of the report, published early last year. The result of a two-year inquiry sponsored by the Police Foundation and chaired by Dame Ruth Runciman, the report called for a cut in penalties for cannabis, ecstasy and LSD. Dame Ruth today repeated her warning that the government could not afford to ignore the debate over drugs. "Our drug laws need some review after 30 years to make them more accurate, more enforceable and fairer," she said. "I don't see how in the end they [the government] can avoid joining in what should be a common sense, undogmatic and constructive debate." Penalties had to be proportionate to the risk of the drug, she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. Persistent offenders should end up with a criminal record but those caught with cannabis for personal use for the first time should just receive a caution, she added. However Mr Hellawell, who has been asked to examine the report, insisted the law would not change. He has been joined by the home secretary. "We don't agree with their proposals for cannabis because that would actually amount to the effective decriminalisation of cannabis," Mr Straw said.
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