BLAIR PAL: CABINET IS DIVIDED ON DOPE

THE cabinet is split over whether cannabis should be legalised, it was
revealed today.

Pressure piled on Tony Blair to ease his tough stance after a poll showed
that nearly 60 per cent of people think the personal use of pot should no
longer be a criminal offence.

Labour peer and barrister Helena Kennedy backed changing the law and said:
"There are a lot of people in the Cabinet who take the same view as
myself."

Lady Kennedy, 50, was asked whether Home secretary Jack Straw and Education
Secretary David Blunkett were the "barriers" to relaxing the laws against
smoking pot.

She said: "Oh yes, I'm sure. Jack has for a number of years now been rather
firm on this. He should review his position."

The Prime Minister said at the weekend he was against softening laws on
drugs.