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UK: Cannabis must stay illegal, says Milburn

Melissa Kite

The Times

Monday 15 Jul 2002

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ALAN MILBURN pledged yesterday that the Government would never
decriminalise cannabis, in a sign of Cabinet unease at David Blunkett's
relaxing of the drug laws.

The Health Secretary pointed out the dangers of using cannabis and refused
to back the 'softly softly' approach to the drug adopted by police in the
area of London where he lives. Interviewed on BBC1's Breakfast With Frost,
Mr Milburn said: 'We will never decriminalise cannabis. We will always
maintain vigilance as far as drugs are concerned.'

The downgrading of cannabis from Class B to Class C had been undertaken
only because of the advice of experts, he said. The move means that
possession will no longer be an arrestable offence.

The Health Secretary, who has a home in Brixton, where Commander Brian
Paddick pioneered not prosecuting cannabis users, would have to sort things
out if the reclassification led to a rise in drug-dealing and addiction.
Other Labour figures to express concern include Kate Hoey, whose Vauxhall
seat includes Brixton.Another Labour MP, Irene Adams, who represents
Paisley North, said that the Government's policy was 'tantamount to telling
a child that he can't have a sweet but that if he takes it from a drawer
behind your back that's all right'.

Asked about the Brixton experiment, Mr Milburn said: 'I have had a
conversation with Kate. I live in the area where the experiment was. There
are mixed views. Arrests for Class A drugs trafficking increased, so I
think that is quite interesting.'

On allowing medicinal use of cannabis, he said: 'This is a difficult one. I
have listened to the views of people with MS (multiple sclerosis). We will
make a decision based on the clinical evidence.'

Michael Howard, the Shadow Chancellor and former Tory Home Secretary, told
the programme: 'I think David Blunkett has made a mistake and I would be
astonished if when we return to government we stick to the policy.'

 

 

 

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