POLICE CHIEF CALLS FOR REFORM OF DRUGS CLASSIFICATION

THE urgent need for a new classification of drugs has been defended by the
only Scottish-based member of a controversial independent think-tank.

Mr John Hamilton, the chief constable of Fife, said the limitations of the
present system were illustrated by the fact that alcohol and tobacco were
not officially classified - and yet were as dangerous as some of the
substances examined by the Police Foundation Inquiry.

Speaking for the first time since the findings of the team were published,
he also emphasised the importance of involving young people in the debate,
in an effort to reduce Scotland's drugs death toll. Mr Hamilton said he
hoped the Scottish Parliament would have the opportunity to consider the
report.

The two-year inquiry, established to provide the Government with an
independent review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, made 81
recommendations, including a call to downgrade ecstasy from its current
class A classification to class B, and to drop cannabis from class B to the
lesser class C. This prompted outrage from drugs campaigners.

Hypothetically positioning alcohol and tobacco in the three-tier
classifications, the police chief said: "I think it is worth recognising if
we were to place tobacco and alcohol in these categories, then alcohol
would sit between class A and class B, and tobacco would sit between B and C."

Mr Hamilton restated the committee's call for cannabis to be used to
alleviate the suffering of those with serious medical conditions, under
strict supervision, but added the irony was that pharmaceutical heroin
could be prescribed to treat those suffering from certain conditions, while
cannabis could not.

Emphasising the committee's view that all drugs, regardless of
classification, were harmful, Mr Hamilton said: "There are none of them
safe. The whole purpose of the 1971 Act was to separate out the most
dangerous and categorise them at different levels. It is all the more
important that we make sure the drugs are in the right category."

He said criticism that the think tank was sending out the wrong message
with its 148-page report was unfounded, and warned of the dangers in
retaining current classifications.

"Much has been made of the fact that we are sending the wrong message. The
wrong message has already been sent out, because quite clearly all the
scientific evidence indicates ecstasy should be in class B.

"The danger is if teenagers try ecstasy and find it is okay, they might
think other drugs in that category (currently, A) are okay too, such as
heroin and cocaine. Having taken cannabis, they might think that other
drugs in the B class are also okay.

"The wrong message has already been sent. We want to correct that so it is
an accurate message. I am wholeheartedly in favour of the view that it is
important that we have public awareness and public education and
particularly education of the young, but that education has to be based on
sound, correct, up-to-date facts. The truth of the matter is we are not
giving them sound, correct information."

He said it was important that the final response of Government to the
report was "considered and reflective", despite initial indications that
the conclusions had not been viewed favourably.

"The committee did not expect Government to rush into a response. I think
that when it is examined in the whole, the report will be seen for the
value that it is. I hope that the report will stand the test of time far
beyond the life of any Government or Opposition."

Mr Hamilton, who visited Amsterdam coffee houses openly selling cannabis in
his research, restated the need for young people to be involved in the debate.

"If we are hoping to solve the drug problem ... (we) need to bring young
people into the debate because they know more about drugs and solving the
drug problem than anyone else."