UK GOVERNMENT CROWS OVER CONSERVATIVE CANNABIS HASH

LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The British government twisted the knife into
opposition Conservatives on Tuesday over their rapid U-turn on a planned
crackdown on soft drugs but it showed no inclination to consider
decriminalising cannabis.

The Conservatives, hoping to capitalise on a resurgence in opinion polls,
last week unveiled plans for instant fines for possessing even small amounts
of the drug and criminal records and court cases for repeat offenders.

Police, the public and even members of the Tory party howled at home affairs
spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, the author of the scheme, forcing her leader
William Hague to step in and back down even though she claimed he cleared
the policy.

``The extent of the shambles inside the Conservative Party is
extraordinary,'' ruling Labour Party Home Secretary Jack Straw told BBC
radio.

``Within less than a week of having cleared this policy ... William Hague
has completely abandoned Widdecombe. What it shows is they are unfit to
govern.''

Hague said the policy would go out for consultation. Up to six million
Britons have smoked dope, authorities estimate. Tory MPs feared Widdecombe
was planning to criminalise them all.

In an amazingly candid display, eight members of Hague's front bench
admitted to smoking dope in years gone by -- a clear snub to the hardline
Widdecombe. The latest, agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo, even admitted to
liking it.

In stark contrast, government ministers have kept very quiet. Cabinet Office
minister Mo Mowlam is on record as having dabbled. Straw said he never had.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and his aides are delighted at the row within the
Conservative Party, which has clouded its recent comeback in the polls and
taken the spotlight off public anger at the government over sky-high fuel
prices and a paltry increase in the state pension.

GOVERNMENT LOOKING AT MEDICAL BENEFITS

Straw said the government was testing drugs based on cannabis compounds to
see if they could help in the treatment of diseases like multiple sclerosis.
If the results prove positive, he would look at decriminalisation in that
specific area.

But he dismissed campaigners' arguments that cannabis is less harmful than
alcohol.

He said doctors and psychiatrists say the ``weed'' can exacerbate mental
illness and cancer in the long term and was carcinogenic. If it was
legalised, consumption would increase fast, raising the prospect of damage
being done.

Two former police chiefs called on Monday for legalisation to help stamp out
harder drugs. Straw agreed to the extent that the focus had to be on hard
drugs like heroin and cocaine.

But with an election possible within seven months, even Labour MPs who
favour decriminalisation, such as Paul Flynn and Brian Iddon, admit there is
no chance of ministers grasping the nettle any time soon.