CANNABIS CAMPAIGN FRANCE TO EASE DRUG LAWS AND LET DOCTORS TRY DOPE

THE French government will approve the experimental use of cannabis in
hospitals next year as a first tentative step towards a relaxation of the
country's draconian drugs laws.

Discussions are also to be held early next year on the abolition of prison
sentences for possession of small quantities of cannabis and other soft
drugs. Depending on public reaction, this could lead towards a broader
decriminalisation of cannabis use.

Although Lionel Jospin's government has ruled out any formal change in
drugs laws in the near future, it is expected to use its discretionary
powers to alter the repressive French legal landscape. To help to massage
public fears, and counter political opposition, the government has
commissioned a study of the relative dangers of cannabis and other illegal
substances, when compared to legal drugs such as alcohol and nicotine.

"We can act ... without waiting for a change in the law," Bernard Kouchner,
the Health Minister, told a twoday national conference on drug abuse held
at the health ministry last weekend. More than 200 doctors, drugs experts,
scientists, teachers and social workers recommended that the 1970 drugs
law, which they described as "obsolete and inoperative" be abolished. The
conference made 15 recommendations, including the abolition of all criminal
penalties for possession of small quantities of cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy
and heroin.

But Mr Kouchner, who is personally in favour of decriminalising at least
cannabis, made it clear that there would be no new legislation in the near
future. He said that public opinion in France was not yet ready for
dramatic change and the Jospin government could not be sure of winning a
majority for new laws in the National Assembly. Instead, he promised
"coherent steps on public health grounds" within the existing law.

The precise meaning of this promise remains somewhat unclear, perhaps
deliberately so. But officials in the health ministry said last week that
it would mean at least three things.

One, the authorisation of experiments with cannabis use in a limited number
of hospitals next year. The drug has been found to be beneficial in the
treatment or at least the alleviation of symptoms in cases of cancer,
glaucoma and terminal Aids.

Two, a circular or decree to the judicial and penal authorities to ensure
that prisoners addicted to hard drugs continue to receive appropriate
treatment, including heroin substitutes, while in custody.

Three, discussions between ministries health, interior and justice on a
possible decree or circular recommending the French courts to avoid prison
sentences for possession of cannabis and other soft drugs. This could be a
first step towards another decree or circular recommending police and
public prosecutors to bring no more charges for possession of small
quantities of cannabis.

Such decrees would, in effect, bring the formal, legal situation closer in
line with reality. The 1970 law and 1995 penal code lay down fierce
penalties up to one year in jail for smoking cannabis, up to 20 years for
growing a plant on your windowsill. But the law is sketchily enforced: at
most, possession results in a small fine. It is estimated that 2 million
people in France use cannabis regularly and up to 7 million occasionally,
but there are fewer than 6,000 prosecutions for cannabis possession each
year.

Mr Kouchner's caution reflects a deep division on the issue within the
SocialistCommunistGreen coalition which has been ruling France since
June. Mr Jospin, the Prime Minister, said during the election campaign in
May that he would, if elected, consider decriminalisation. Dominique
Voynet, the Environment Minister and leader of the main French Green party,
has called for outright legalisation of cannabis, and Elisabeth Guigou, the
Justice Minister, is also broadly in favour of a change in the drugs law.

On the other hand, three of the most influential ministers Martine Aubry,
the Employment Minister, JeanPierre Chevenement, the Interior Minister and
Claude Allegre the Education Minister, are opposed to any change, whether
for cannabis or any other drug. Apart from their personal convictions, they
argue that a move to relax the law would be an electoral gift to the
centreright and the farright National Front. The centreright President,
Jacques Chirac, is also fiercely opposed to any tampering with the 1970
drugs law.

JeanPierre Galland, president of the cannabis pressure group, le Collectif
d'Information et de Recherche Cannabique, said policy towards the drug in
France was "hysterical and incoherent". It was his group which sent a joint
to each of the 577 members of the National Assembly three days before the
conference. It took 10 people four hours to roll the joints by hand.

Mr Galland said that the government did not have the courage to change the
law, but it was becoming impossible to enforce it. He predicted a
compromise within the next couple of next years which did not offend public
opinion but which, in effect, decriminalised possession of small
quantities. "I don't see any other way, as the current law is unworkable.