BLUNKETT BACKS RELAXING APPROACH TO CANNABIS USE

Soft Drugs Pilot Scheme Will See Users Cautioned

David Blunkett has shown his backing for a radical experiment to adopt a
more relaxed approach to cannabis users, concentrating police resources
instead on the fight against hard drugs.

The home secretary said he was interested in an experiment under which
cannabis users who are caught will be cautioned rather than given a
criminal record.

Speaking on BBC's Breakfast with Frost, he said the scheme "fits in
entirely with the emphasis that I'd already announced . . . on placing
absolute priority on class A drugs . . . and on concentrating police
resources where they're needed most".

Mr Blunkett's interest in the pilot scheme in Lambeth, south London, came
as a surprise as he had been expected to take a reactionary approach to law
and order. Aides last night denied he was signalling a move towards
decriminalising soft drugs.

The Liberal Democrats, however, lauded what they saw as a shift in tone.
Simon Hughes, home affairs spokesman, said: "Catching more big-time drug
dealers and middle men is hundreds of times more useful than nicking people
with soft drugs for their own use."

Even the Tories suggested support for the move if it saved police time. Ann
Widdecombe, the shadow home secretary who invited ridicule at last year's
conference with her pledge to impose a Pounds 100 on-the-spot fine on all
cannabis users, said "processes to deal with minor cannabis offences are
too cumbersome". But before the government extended the Lambeth scheme, it
must establish criteria to judge the success of the pilot.

Several contenders for the Tory leadership yesterday parted with the
party's traditional opposition to drugs by calling for a debate on the
legalisation of cannabis.

David Davis was against legalisation but said "we should have the debate".
Michael Ancram opposed a change in the law, but said: "You have to apply
the law intelligently . . . What I am quite happy to do, because I think in
a modern democratic party you need to do this, is to debate it."

Michael Portillo said the issue was "extremely complicated" but people
"must think it is extraordinary that the political class is not prepared to
debate (it)".