50-MILE ROUND TRIP FOR A 'SAFE' REEFER

A PARAPLEGIC cannabis smoker celebrated a controversial decision by Lambeth
police not to arrest drug users carrying small amounts of marijuana by
lighting a joint on the steps of Brixton police station yesterday.

Chris Baldwin, 51, who smokes cannabis to ease spasms in his legs, had
travelled from his home in Worthing for the first day of the six-month
pilot scheme. Officers following the new guidelines confiscated Mr
Baldwin's drugs and issued a brief warning.

The project has divided community leaders. Some say it will free police to
purge the area of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Others say that
the police are washing their hands of young people living on some of
Britain's toughest estates, many of whom are driven into crime by drug habits.

"It is a cop-out," said Ros Griffiths, who a fortnight ago opened an
employment cafe on Railton Road. "I work on the frontline with drug takers
and also at Brixton prison with dealers. This policy sends a dangerous
mixed message. Drugs are either illegal or they are not. And until Tony
Blair's Government legalises ganja, it is illegal. It is a double standard."

But the head of the council-owned Brixton Pondok Steps community centre
welcomed the policy. Eston Barton, 40, said: "I am a smoker and drinker of
cannabis so I'm in favour. Smokers will be more relaxed because of the
policy. It's the people on heroin and cocaine the police should focus on."

Manolya Hasan, 40, a mother whose children use the centre, agreed. "It's
the harder drugs that are bringing people down. The shootings are all to do
with hard drugs."

A drug dealer on the estate who would not be named said the policy made no
difference to him. "I'm still breaking the law. It will not help dealers.
This law is not for me, it's for the people who use cannabis."

The Lambeth scheme could be adopted all over the country if it is deemed a
success. It is the creation of Commander Brian Paddick who says that
processing a single cannabis smoker, who usually ends up with a fine of
less than pounds50, takes two officers off the beat for several hours.

The Government has denied that the scheme, which coincides with the start
this week of tougher sentencing for violent criminals, is the first step
towards legalisation of cannabis.