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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Duncan Smith examines Swedish action on drugs
Melissa Kite The Times
Tuesday 23 Jul 2002 IAIN DUNCAN SMITH attempted to press ahead with the modernisation of the Conservative Party yesterday with a visit to a drug treatment centre in Sweden. The Tory leader said that he would consider offering young people the option of free rehabilitation instead of prison as part of the party's drug policy. Mr Duncan Smith visited the Christina Gynna-Oguz treatment centre amid rumours in London of his anger at the lack of policy work done by his chairman, David Davis. The Tory leader had been impressed by the Swedish zero tolerance approach in which cannabis abuse is treated as seriously as heroin and rehabilitation is compulsory for all found using drugs. The visit was designed to put clear water between the Tories and the Government, which this month announced the downgrading of cannabis to a Class C drug, in effect scrapping prosecution for personal use. Mr Duncan Smith said that in Sweden addicts were offered free treatment on arrest. He was accompanied by Oliver Letwin, Shadow Home Secretary, who was one of several senior Tories two years ago to admit having tried cannabis in his youth. He was then part of a rebellion against Ann Widdecombe's zero tolerance policy on soft drugs. Mr Letwin said that he was sympathetic to rehabilitation for cannabis users. He and Mr Duncan Smith emphasised, however, that they had yet to decide on a drugs policy. They will first visit other countries including The Netherlands.
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