CALL TO RELAX LAW ON CANNABIS

An independent inquiry partly funded by the Prince's Trust is expected
to recommend a dramatic relaxation of drug laws, including an end to
imprisonment for smoking cannabis, it emerged yesterday. The report is
not due to be published by the Police Foundation - whose president is
the Prince of Wales - until mid-March, but the Times reports that it
will contain controversial recommendations.

As well as lowering the maximum punishment for cannabis possession
from the present seven years' jail to a fine, the report will propose
relaxation of the ban on cannabis use for medical purposes and
downgrading of ecstasy from a "hard" to a "soft" drug, the paper reports.

Details of the report emerged as the Metropolitan police launched a
high-profile campaign focusing on drug dealers.

Commander Andy Hayman, head of the Met's drugs directorate, declined
to comment on the leaks but said: "I think there's got to be a much
wider debate about it."

The report is being drawn up by a committee of inquiry set up by the
foundation in 1997 to look into the effectiveness of the misuse of
drugs act, 1971. Some 500 people were jailed for cannabis possession
in 1997.

Barrie Irving, director of the foundation, said that the conclusions
and recommendations had yet to be written.