TORY DISARRAY ON DRUGS SHOCK

Revelations that seven members of the British Tory shadow cabinet had used
cannabis threw the British Conservative Party's policy on drugs into
disarray yesterday.

Among those who admitted to using cannabis in their youth were shadow
foreign secretary Francis Maude, shadow environment secretary Archie
Norman, and leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde. The disclosure,
published in a British newspaper, came hot on the heels of a controversial
``zero tolerance'' policy on drugs announced by shadow home secretary Ann
Widdecombe at last week's Tory conference.

Other shadow cabinet members who admitted having tried cannabis were shadow
culture secretary Peter Ainsworth, shadow transport minister Bernard
Jenkin, shadow social security secretary David Willetts, and shadow
treasury chief secretary Oliver Letwin.

Yesterday, Mr Ainsworth told BBC Radio that the policy on drugs announced
by Miss Widdecombe needed to be changed. He also hinted that the policy was
not fully discussed before being announced.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy yesterday became the first leader
of a British mainstream party to say he favoured the decriminalisation of
cannabis.

Mr Kennedy told ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby that he did not regard the Shadow
Cabinet members or other recreational users of cannabis as criminals. Asked
if he believed the drug should be decriminalised, Mr Kennedy answered: ``Yes.''

He said the Liberal Democrat manifesto would propose a Royal Commission on
possible reforms of Britain's drug laws.