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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Blunkett restarts cannabis debate
Ananova
Monday 25 Jun 2001 Senior politicians have reignited the debate over how the authorities should deal with people who use cannabis. David Blunkett says he is "interested" in a London experiment under which police caution rather than charge people caught with small amounts of the drug. Speaking on the BBC 1's Breakfast with Frost, the Home Secretary said he had spoken to the officer in charge. He commented: "He actually told me what he was about to do and I said that fits in entirely with the emphasis that I'd already announced on placing absolute priority on class A drugs." On the same programme, Michael Portillo was asked about his attitude to calls for the legalisation of cannabis. He said he believed the Tory party had to be "brave enough" to debate such issues. The shadow chancellor said: "Many people in this country now have a view on this, they either have personal experience or they have experience in their families, and they must think it is very extraordinary that the political class is not prepared to debate the issue. "I don't know what the answer to this is. But I do believe that if people in politics are to claim to represent the people of the country, then they have got to be seen at least to be willing to understand and to address issues that people out there are talking about." Later, Ann Widdecombe, responding to Mr Blunkett's comments, said: "This trial proves what we have been saying all along, that current procedures to deal with minor cannabis offences are too cumbersome. Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes added: "There should be a standing Royal Commission to advise on all drugs and drugs policy, from alcohol and other currently legal drugs to currently illegal ones."
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