Mowlam Declares: 'I Did Inhale'

BRITAIN: Britain's Cabinet Office Minister Dr Mo Mowlam yesterday
insisted she was the right person to lead the government's anti-drugs
drive despite admitting she smoked cannabis as a student.

"I haven't made any secret of being a child of the Sixties," she told
Sky News.

She continued: "I tried marijuana, didn't like it particularly and
unlike President Clinton I did inhale."

The former Northern Ireland secretary rejected suggestions that her
experience made her unfit to maintain her position. "I will continue
to fight hard against drugs that can kill people, like heroin and
cocaine," she said.

She dismissed reports that she intended to sack the government's
Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, Mr Keith Hellawell, and rejected calls that
she should give up her Cabinet seat.

Mr Hellawell poured scorn on Conservative Party demands that Dr Mowlam
divulge the details of her experimentation with drugs. "I think we
have to stop this idea of witch-hunts and pointing the finger," he
said.

The drugs campaigner Ms Janet Betts, whose daughter, Leah, died after
taking ecstasy, also dismissed calls for Dr Mowlam to be removed from
office. "It is ridiculous to say that she should be sacked.

Indeed, some would say that it is a good thing she has first-hand
experience of drugs if she is heading the government's drugs
campaign," she said.

A Downing Street spokesman said Dr Mowlam still had the Prime
Minister's full backing, too.