Cannabis: It's Mo vs Straw

Mo Mowlam was under pressure last night to clarify her position on
legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes and personal possession after
reports that she was at odds on the issue with Tony Blair and Jack Straw,
the Home Secretary.

Ms Mowlam, who last week admitted that she had smoked marijuana in the
Sixties, is known to be "sympathetic" to proposals to decriminalise the
personal and medicinal use of cannabis.

But last night it was reported that the Cabinet Office minister was getting
"absolutely nowhere" with Mr Straw and Downing Street, who see any legal
change as "the tip of the iceberg" leading to pressure for the full
decriminalisation of cannabis.

The Independent on Sunday understands that Ms Mowlam frequently expresses
frustration with that approach and claims that Mr Straw is convinced that
"one puff of cannabis instantly turns you into a heroin addict".

It is understood that when Ms Mowlam took over the Government's anti-drug
policy in October she was told not to try to relax the government line.

Instead she was told to delay any action until two three-year studies in
developing cannabis pills for the seriously ill were completed in 2003.

But friends say she wants to push the Prime Minister and Mr Straw on the
issue following the wave of support she had following her confession.

A source close to Ms Mowlam said: "Mo does not support the
decriminalisation of cannabis, but believes people are now ready to
consider sensible reforms."

Her attitude has also been influenced by the experience of her mother,
Tina, who died recently after a long and painful illness.Mrs Tina Mowlam
did not use cannabis to ease her suffering but the family is understood to
believe it should be made legal for medical reasons.

The dispute is part of a wider row across Whitehall about the effectiveness
of the Government's anti-drugs policy, launched two years ago.

A Cabinet Office study has implicitly accepted that Keith Hellawell, the
drugs tsar, has yet to have the impact he hoped. It is said to call for the
merger of the anti-drugs work of the Department of Health and the Home Office.

The recommendation on lifting penal sanctions for possession is set to be
made by a key committee set up by the Home Office-funded Police Foundation
and chaired by Lady Runciman, a former member of the Government's advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Ms Mowlam is understood to be anxious to raise the profile of the
Government's anti-drugs effort.

The campaign to allow cannabis use for medical purposes was given a boost
when the Lords' Science and Technology Committee recommended in November
1998 that doctors be entitled to prescribe it. The peers said they had
found enough evidence that the drug was effective against the symptoms of
multiple sclerosis and the control of pain.

The British Medical Association called for a change in the law three years
ago to legalise research to identify the drug's beneficial chemical but
warned that smoking cannabis could increase the risk of heart and lung disease.

The controversy is expected to flare again next month with the publication
of a report by a group headed by the Prince of Wales, which is expected to
recommend sweeping liberalisation of cannabis laws.

The latest Home Office figures, for 1997, show that 45,362 people were
cautioned for simple possession of cannabis, 18,000 fined, and around 4,000
placed on probation. Just over 500 were jailed for possession.