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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Yes We've Smoked Cannabis, Say Third Of Financial Bosses
Daily Mail
Wednesday 18 Oct 2000 Website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ Author: Darren Behar, industry correspondent A third of Britain's top financial bosses have admitted smoking cannabis, a report reveals today. The findings will come as a further blow to the Governments attempts curb the use of the drug amid growing calls for it to be decriminalised. Last week, an EU report showed that 1 in 10 British adults used cannabis in the past year, today's survey of 250 finance directors, published in the magazine Accountancy Age, found even those who had not tried cannabis believe the zero tolerance policy proposed by Ann Widdicome at the conservative conference last month is "unworkable", One director said: "a quarter of the population would end up with criminal records. The courts and police would not be able to cope." Another said he had tried it "just like 66% of the population", adding: "cannabis should be treated in the same way that alcohol is." A recent report showed a two-to-one majority now favour decriminalisation of cannabis, and seven senior Tories, including members of William Hauges shadow cabinet, also owned up to using the drug at some stage. Pressure is now growing on the Government to implement a full scale revue of the law, or set up a national revue body. Ruth Lea, head of policy at the institute of directors said: "It is clear from this and other surveys that the current policy on cannabis is unworkable." "The people of Britain are looking for relaxed laws. I have not tried it myself, but many of my friends have. it is their choice. Directors are just part of the population, so why shouldn't some have tried it? And many have the feeling that laws are out moded. I am not going to condemn then." Business groups said that the findings are unsurprising and warned the Government not to ignore the views of bosses. However, Labour is likely to remain unimpressed with call for laws to be relaxed. Deputy prime minister John Prescott and home secretary Jack Straw are hard liners against drugs, and recent evidence revealed that cannabis is highly addictive and dangerous. Scientists believe that cannabis more likely to cause cancer than tobacco. A cabinet minister spokesperson said last night: " the Government has a 10-year anti-drugs plan. We have a report out soon and our policy on cannabis remains the same. It is illegal and a criminal offence." The Governments second annual report on drugs is due to be published on November 7th.
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