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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Government accused of 'anti-green drugs campaign'
Simon Parker The Guardian
Friday 13 Jul 2001 The Labour party has been accused of hypocrisy for urging its councillors to attack the Green party's drug policy weeks before David Blunkett cautiously welcomed a new scheme that effectively decriminalises cannabis in parts of London. A private Millbank briefing launched in the run-up to last month's county council elections and seen by Guardian Unlimited gives local politicians tips on running an "anti-Green drugs campaign," highlighting the party's policy of decriminalising drugs for personal use. Standard letters to the local press enclosed in the briefing urge Green council candidates to distance themselves from the policy, which Labour claims will lead to "more drug use and crime locally." This month, however, Mr Blunkett apparently softened Labour's line on drugs, saying there was room for "an adult, intelligent debate" on the future direction of policy. Such a statement would have been unthinkable under his hardline predecessor, Jack Straw. Mr Blunkett has not ruled out the possibility of extending nationally a scheme currently running in the south London borough of Lambeth that allows the police to take a more relaxed attitude to cannabis possession. Anyone caught in possession will be given a warning and have their drugs confiscated. The have Greens slated the Millbank briefing as "hypocritical". National spokesman Mike Woodin said: "We welcome the fact that David Blunkett seems more enlightened than his predecessor on this. "But I find it hypocritical that just week's before his u-turn on drugs, Labour were attempting to make reactionary political capital out of Green Party policies." The briefing claims that some of those who may be tempted to vote Green will be "totally unaware" of the party's policies on drugs. It focuses particularly on an ecstasy testing kit being sold through a Green Party hotline. One of Millbank's standard letters to the press reads: "Greens are openly promoting the decriminalising of drugs. This national hotline to promote the use of ecstasy is immoral." The Green party does not support the immediate legalisation of ecstasy, calling instead for a Royal Commission into the legal status of supplying class A drugs. However the party would decriminalise for personal use. . The party would also allow people to grow their own cannabis at home, and allow the drug to be sold in licensed "coffee shops". GPs would be allowed to prescribe heroin to stabilise addicts' habits and help direct users into treatment programmes. Commercial promotion of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, would be banned.
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