OPENING COMMENTS

Only one thing is certain about the great marijuana debate: whether you are
Britain's prohibition-mad Home Secretary, or a stoned ex-hippy who would
like to dish out the drug for free, you are likely to have a lot more
opinions than facts.

Past commissions and reports have tried to clear the clouds of unreason but
have been universally ignored. This week we make our own attempt to tackle
the key issues, including the latest findings from the Netherlands where
possession of small amounts of marijuana has been legal for a decade. Our
report homes in on four key claims frequently made by the US National
Institute on Drug Abuse. As its name implies, this government institute
researches (and spends) hard in pursuit of the harmful effects of drugs.
Its data also have a vast influence on UN policy. But as the pages that
follow reveal, simple statements are never quite as simple as they seem . .
.