BELGIAN SMOKE SIGNAL ON CANNABIS

European governments will come under renewed pressure to decriminalise
cannabis after Belgium's decision to legalise the personal use of the drug
for anyone over 18.

Under radical plans approved by the Belgium cabinet on Friday, it will soon
be legal to grow, import and consume potentially unlimited amounts of pot
for personal use.

"Any possession of cannabis for personal consumption will no longer provoke
a reaction from the justice system unless its use is considered to be
problematic or creates a social nuisance," Health Minister Magda Aelvoet said.

But it will still be against the law to deal in or supply cannabis or to
produce the drug in industrial quantities for sale. Nor will Belgium
replicate the Netherlands' network of coffee shops selling cannabis
cigarettes over the counter. Hard drugs will still be outlawed.

Italy, Spain and Portugal are said to be considering similar moves for
cannabis and Belgium's decision to relax its laws will make the British
Government, which has repeatedly refused to consider decriminalisation,
look increasingly isolated.

It has been legal since 1976 to buy and use cannabis in any one of the
Netherlands' 1500 coffee shops. Within a few months, Belgium will become
the second country in the EU to follow suit when it amends its own 1921
drugs laws.

In Britain, the government has stated that it will reject calls to
decriminalise cannabis despite a report from the Police Foundation
recommending more relaxed penalties for its use and medical evidence that
it eases chronic pain.

The Belgian Government will not define what constitutes a reasonable amount
of pot, leaving it to the country's judiciary to set the legal precedent.