CANNABIS LAW UNCHANGED

MINISTERS insisted yesterday that cannabis had not been decriminalised,
despite the launch of an experiment which will allow people possessing
small quantities to escape with just a warning.

Home Office Minister John Denham told the Commons that the law had not been
changed as the contentious scheme in Brixton, south London, got under way.

Mr Denham said: "In Brixton, the Divisional Commander has taken a decision
about the use of police resources so he can prioritise those crimes which
are doing most damage to the community, in particular the peddling of hard
drugs.

"But it is not the case to say that cannabis has been decriminalised, or
that the law has been changed."

But Labour MP for Newport West, Paul Flynn, warned that the experiment
appeared to reflect the start of a new policy on drugs.

"Is it sensible that we should add creeping decriminalisation by postcode?"
he asked.

Under the experiment, anybody found in possession of small quantities of
cannabis will be let off with a formal warning, rather than being arrested
and cautioned.

The scheme began as the government prepared to launch a crackdown this week
on sentencing of violent criminals, sex offenders and teenage thugs.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is also expected to home in on the use of
hard drugs, as well as announcing a review of sentencing laws.

Under the tough new plans, young criminals who re-offend will be given no
second chance and will be fast-tracked back into court, while dangerous
criminals, including rapists and paedophiles, will be refused early release
from prison.

Junior Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said the government had "no
intention" of legalising controlled drugs.

Pressed by the Opposition to rule out decriminalising cannabis, she said
the government's priority had always been to tackle Class A drugs.

"The government has no intention of legalising controlled drugs, but we are
interested in the experiment going on in Lambeth and what it can help us
understand about the effective policing of the drugs that do most damage to
our young people."

Former Tory Cabinet minister Peter Lilley said that not applying the law on
cannabis on the streets brought the law, the police and Parliament into
disrepute.

Law and police practice needed to be "brought into line sooner rather than
later", he said.

Mr Blunkett said the experiment should not be seen as an unravelling of policy.