Government May Back Medicinal Cannabis Next Year

Moves to legalise cannabis for medicinal use could begin as early as
next year.

Cabinet Minister Mo Mowlam says some scientific trials on the drug are
coming to an end and action could follow soon.

Her comments come as the Government's drugs tsar Keith Hellawell
publishes his annual report.

"I hope that by the end of next year those scientific results will be
out and then we can make a clear evaluation in relation to medicinal
use," she said.

Asked if that meant that by the end of next year the Government could
back the legalisation of the medicinal use of cannabis, Ms Mowlam
said: "Yes but legalise it in the form of cannaboids which is a kind
of derivative so people don't have to smoke it."

Ms Mowlam, the minister in charge of drugs policy, acknowledges the
Cabinet is discussing a change in the attitude to drugsas part of a
wider public debate.

"What is going on is not just a Cabinet discussion, what is going on
is what we want to see - which is a more open discussion on the impact
of cannnabis. We have no trouble with that but our position on
cannabis has not changed."

She also says there are "positive, encouraging signs" that the
Government's 10-year drugs strategy is working.

This includes halving the availability of Class A drugs on the
streets, halving the number of young people using heroin and cocaine
and doubling the number of drug misusers in treatment by 2008.

Ms Mowlam adds the "mega good news" is that pilots of new
drug-treatment programmes are showing success rates of 96% and these
will now be rolled out across the country.