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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Tory Disarray On Drugs Shock
Independent, The
Monday 09 Oct 2000 Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/ Author: Andrew Woodcock TORY DISARRAY ON DRUGS SHOCK Revelations that seven members of the British Tory shadow cabinet had used cannabis threw the British Conservative Party's policy on drugs into disarray yesterday. Among those who admitted to using cannabis in their youth were shadow foreign secretary Francis Maude, shadow environment secretary Archie Norman, and leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde. The disclosure, published in a British newspaper, came hot on the heels of a controversial ``zero tolerance'' policy on drugs announced by shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe at last week's Tory conference. Other shadow cabinet members who admitted having tried cannabis were shadow culture secretary Peter Ainsworth, shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin, shadow social security secretary David Willetts, and shadow treasury chief secretary Oliver Letwin. Yesterday, Mr Ainsworth told BBC Radio that the policy on drugs announced by Miss Widdecombe needed to be changed. He also hinted that the policy was not fully discussed before being announced. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy yesterday became the first leader of a British mainstream party to say he favoured the decriminalisation of cannabis. Mr Kennedy told ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby that he did not regard the Shadow Cabinet members or other recreational users of cannabis as criminals. Asked if he believed the drug should be decriminalised, Mr Kennedy answered: ``Yes.'' He said the Liberal Democrat manifesto would propose a Royal Commission on possible reforms of Britain's drug laws.
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