MINISTERS MUST NOW 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 Foundation 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 huge profits to corrupt police officers. 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.