NORRIS AND TORIES SPLIT OVER CANNABIS

A FRESH split emerged between Steve Norris and the Conservative front bench
yesterday after his decision to support the use of cannabis as a pain
reliever.

The former minister publicly called for the police "not to prosecute those
who use cannabis for medicinal purposes". But Ann Widdecombe, the shadow
home secretary, said that it would be wrong for the police to adopt that
approach because possession of cannabis is illegal, whatever the reason.

She said: "You cannot expect the police to go round making the law. That's
Parliament's job. They are there to enforce the law." Miss Widdecombe was
explaining the party's position in the light of a report claiming that the
Government had decided to legalise the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Downing Street yesterday confirmed that clinical trials were under way but
a spokesman insisted that the tests were still at an early stage and that a
decision about cannabis would have to wait until the results were
available. Miss Widdecombe said she would also need to be persuaded before
allowing cannabis to be used for this purpose.

Although Mr Norris is standing as a Conservative candidate, he has refused
to be bound by all party policies and has taken a much more liberal stance
on Section 28, homosexual behaviour and certain aspects of immigration policy.