Editorial: Reefer Madness-MPs Have To Get In Touch With Reality

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Observer, The

Monday 16 Oct 2000

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Website: http://www.newsunlimited.co.uk/observer/

REEFER MADNESS-MPs HAVE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH REALITY

Betty Boothroyd warned chillingly upon her retirement of the dangerous
extent to which voters in general, and younger people in particular,
were becoming disengaged from the political process. There can be few
better examples of why this happens than the ludicrous game of
'Whodunnit?' being played by - largely middle-aged - politicians in the
past week over who had once used cannabis. Only Charles Kennedy has
been honest enough to admit frankly what many MPs will say privately,
that he believes cannabis should be decriminalised.

There may be not yet be compelling arguments for entirely
decriminalising (and then, presumably, taxing) a drug which has
uncertain medical side-effects. However, there is already very
substantial evidence that cannabis does not inevitably lead, as its
detractors have claimed, to the abuse of harder drugs. If that were the
case, half the Shadow Cabinet would now be habitual users of heroin.

Almost six months ago, a lengthy Police Foundation inquiry, chaired by
Dame Ruth Runciman, recommended that cannabis be reclassified as a Class
C drug. Mere possession would therefore no longer incur a prison
sentence and police forces would universally treat it as low priority.
This prescription could test the water effectively - but still with
safeguards - for possible future legalisation. Mature politicians will
now consider it seriously.

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