MINISTERS MUST ALLOW A FULL DEBATE OVER OUR ATTITUDE TO DRUGS

It is impossible to underestimate the importance of yesterday's remarks in
New York by Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. As
we report on our front page today, Sir John declared that he would raise no
objections if steps were taken to legalise the possession of cannabis. The
mere fact that this country's most senior policeman would even consider
making such comments shows how swiftly the public debate on drug use is
moving.

Sir John's remarks come at the end of a week when Viscountess Runciman's
report for the Police Federation recommended a sharp reduction in the
penalties for possession of some drugs. Not long ago, such a call would
have been greeted with public abhorrence. This week it merely served to
prompt a sharp public debate on the legalisation of soft drugs.

The battle against soft drugs takes up an immense amount of police time on
a war that can never be won. The fact that so many people take drugs - and
no longer just the young - brings the law into contempt. Worse than that,
it enriches powerful criminals, who try to use some of their profits to
corrupt policeofficers. And because the suppliers of the drugs are
criminals, there is no control over the quality of what people take, all
too often with deadly effect.

These are serious arguments. And yet the Government is right to move
cautiously in this area. One powerful point against legalisation is that
for many young people, part of the thrill is its very illegality. If
cannabis is legalised, they would be tempted to take more dangerous drugs,
with tragic consequences.

It would be foolish to close our ears to the strong cases on both sides.
But clearly it is a matter of paramount national importance to decide where
our society stands on the issue of drugs. It is time for a full Royal
Commission to debate the matter in full.