UK: GOVERNMENT URGED TO DISCUSS CANNABIS - CALL FOR ADULT TALKS ON DRUGS

NORFOLK's drugs tsar has called for the Government to have a "realistic
debate" on the issues of cannabis.

Stuart Minto, co-ordinator of the Norfolk drug Action Team, said there were
a lot or people who smoked cannabis without any major problems.

"I think it is time for the Government to open up the debate on cannabis,"
he said.

"That debate should include the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and the
decriminalisation of cannabis."

The whole issue of cannabis seems to be opening up across the country.

Last week, leading Tory Peter Lilley controversially called for cannabis to
be legalised.

"It is a major U-turn from the pre-election anti all-drugs stance led by
Ann Widdicombe.

And Britain's drugs tsar, Keith Hellawell, has softened his previously hard
line on the drug.

Mr Hellawell said he no longer believed smoking cannabis necessarily leads
on to harder drugs, and Home secretary David Blunkett this week called for
an "adult, intelligent debate" on the subject.

Last week a pilot scheme began in Lambeth, south London, and police are no
longer arresting and cautioning people caught with cannabis.

Mr Minto said there was danger that cracking down on cannabis could deflect
resources away from the bigger problems of cocaine and heroin use. "We
will wait the outcome to see what happens in Lambeth," he said.

"Targetting cannabis is not a good use of resources which is why we're not
putting a lot of resources into it.

"We follow the national strategy which is about targeting heroin and
cannabis users." (sic)

But Mr Minto added a note of caution, saying Norfolk's drug peddlers were
often multi-commodity dealers who sold cannabis, heroin, cocaine and
amphetamine.

This means people going to buy cannabis can be tempted into harder drugs.

He added: "The agencies will say that there are a large number of people
who smoke large amounts of cannabis on a very regular basis and it starts
to cause them large problems psychologically.