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UK: Off his head

The Telegraph

Saturday 13 Sep 2003

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There are two good arguments for the legalisation of cannabis. One of them
is practical, one moral. The moral argument is simple: here is an activity
that gives pleasure to many and relief to some (sufferers, for example, of
multiple sclerosis); an activity whose damaging effects on the health are
confined to the user, which is less addictive than tobacco and, probably,
less damaging than alcohol. Why not let grown-up citizens make their own
decisions, as they do with alcohol, tobacco and fatty foods?

The practical argument is that the country's many, many millions of
cannabis users are already determined to ignore the laws that criminalise
their recreation - and that our legislature should take sensible account of
this. At present, smokers are forced to rely on proper criminals to supply
them with drugs, and are ill-served by a market in which you have no idea
whether your £15 is buying you carbonised pencil erasers, dried oregano
or terrifying genetically modified superskunk. We waste police time and
money on cannabis-related prosecutions; at the same time, we allow the
criminal economy to benefit from what would be, properly taxed and
regulated, a vast source of revenue to the Exchequer.

Though very far from conclusive, both these arguments have merit. But they
are arguments for legalisation; not for decriminalisation, the
worst-of-all-possible-worlds fudge now proposed. To legitimise consumption,
while continuing to criminalise supply, is more than just an intellectual
nonsense. In moral terms, it is too incoherent to claim any authority. In
practical terms, it worsens rather than improves the situation.

The removal of even the vestigial fear of prosecution for smokers will
enlarge demand - and do so to the sole benefit of the criminal economy. The
innocent, law-abiding dopehead will continue to be sold Oxo cubes. And the
law will continue to be an ass - and an underfunded ass at that. It makes
you wonder: what is David Blunkett on?

 

 

 

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