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50-mile round trip for a 'safe' reefer

The Times

Tuesday 03 Jul 2001

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BY LAURA PEEK


A PARAPLEGIC cannabis smoker celebrated a controversial decision by
Lambeth police not to arrest drug users carrying small amounts of
marijuana by lighting a joint on the steps of Brixton police station
yesterday.

Chris Baldwin, 51, who smokes cannabis to ease spasms in his legs, had
travelled from his home in Worthing for the first day of the six-month
pilot scheme. Officers following the new guidelines confiscated Mr
Baldwin's drugs and issued a brief warning.

The project has divided community leaders. Some say it will free police
to purge the area of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Others say
that the police are washing their hands of young people living on some
of Britain's toughest estates, many of whom are driven into crime by
drug habits.

"It is a cop-out," said Ros Griffiths, who a fortnight ago opened an
employment cafe on Railton Road. "I work on the frontline with drug
takers and also at Brixton prison with dealers. This policy sends a
dangerous mixed message. Drugs are either illegal or they are not. And
until Tony Blair's Government legalises ganja, it is illegal. It is a
double standard."

But the head of the council-owned Brixton Pondok Steps community centre
welcomed the policy. Eston Barton, 40, said: "I am a smoker and drinker
of cannabis so I'm in favour. Smokers will be more relaxed because of
the policy. It's the people on heroin and cocaine the police should
focus on."

Manolya Hasan, 40, a mother whose children use the centre, agreed. "It's
the harder drugs that are bringing people down. The shootings are all to
do with hard drugs."

A drug dealer on the estate who would not be named said the policy made
no difference to him. "I'm still breaking the law. It will not help
dealers. This law is not for me, it's for the people who use cannabis."

The Lambeth scheme could be adopted all over the country if it is deemed
a success. It is the creation of Commander Brian Paddick who says that
processing a single cannabis smoker, who usually ends up with a fine of
less than pounds50, takes two officers off the beat for several hours.

The Government has denied that the scheme, which coincides with the
start this week of tougher sentencing for violent criminals, is the
first step towards legalisation of cannabis.

 

 

 

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