POT SPARKS CONFLICT FOR BRITISH CONSERVATIVES

New Policy Divides Hard-Liners, Ex-Users

LONDON -- Britain's opposition Conservative Party has suddenly split
between advocates of a tough new policy against marijuana and senior party
figures who admit they smoked it in their youth.

The issue flared up at the party's annual conference, where criminal
justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe announced a policy of mandatory fines
for the first offense of possessing any amount of marijuana.

"It means zero tolerance of possession, no more getting away with just a
caution, no more hoping that a blind eye will be turned," said Widdecombe,
who cited New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's anti-crime policies as her
inspiration.

The policy called for an automatic $145 fine for the first offense.

Widdecombe's announcement was calculated to be popular with members of the
traditional law-and-order party and attractive to swing voters.

However, the Police Superintendents Association called the policy
unenforceable. The Daily Telegraph, usually a cheerleader for the
Conservatives, said in an editorial that Widdecombe "displayed almost zero
common sense." An editorial in The Times said her policy would
"criminalize thousands of otherwise law-abiding individuals."

Seven senior Tories admitted to the newspaper Mail on Sunday that they had
used marijuana.

"It was quite hard to go through Cambridge University in the '70s without
doing it a few times," said Francis Maude, the party's spokesman on foreign
affairs.

Environment spokesman Archie Norman said he tried marijuana and had no regrets.

"It didn't do much for me," Norman said. "I turned to drink instead.

"I think you expect human beings to explore and experiment. If you don't
you haven't been young."

Culture spokesman Peter Ainsworth said he tried marijuana, but "it made me
feel slightly sick."

Welfare spokesman David Willetts admitted trying two puffs but said he
disliked it.

The issue illustrated a split in the party between Widdecombe's hard line
and Treasury spokesman Michael Portillo's appeal for a more inclusive and
caring party.

Portillo, who has admitted to a past gay relationship, declined to talk
about marijuana.

"I think I've given enough information about my younger days, don't you?"
Portillo said.

The split poses a dilemma for William Hague, the party leader, who boasted
recently of downing 14 pints of beer a day as a teen-ager. He faces
pressures from one side to soften the policy and from the other to dismiss
the admitted marijuana users.