HELLAWELL DENOUNCES LEGALCANNABIS LOBBY

The United Kingdom's first drugs tsar yesterday visited Scotland, with a
stern message to campaigners for cannabis decriminalisation.

Speaking in Glasgow during a tour of a treatment centre, UK antidrugs
coordinator Keith Hellawell condemned those who campaign for such a change
in the law

"I really don't have a great deal of truck with those singleissue
campaigners who just push one side of the debate. I think that many of
those people ought to come here and speak to the doctors who treat young
people, in particular, who are affected and damaged by cannabis.

"I don't think even the strongest protagonist for the legalisation would
not accept that the strong strains of cannabis are hallucinogenic and they
are damaging."

He believes the debate on decriminalisation to be an academic one. The
Government would not decriminalise any drug over the next decade, nor would
any other European Government.

Any review of the law, Mr. Hellawell said, should be dispassionate and
objective.

When asked about possible medical use of the drug and in particular about
the BMA's recent call for a review of the law, Mr. Hellawell said: "If it
can be proved that cannabis can be beneficial in a medical sense, then I
think it would make sense for it to be used."

At present there was no empirical evidence to support such a move. Mr.
Hellawell was full of praise for the work of the Glasgow Drug Crisis
Centre, which is part of the Turning point organisation.

"This centre offers immediate access, where people are walking in 24hrs a
day. "The service that is provided is tailored to them, and they are having
tremendous success in stabilising addicts, getting people away from
addiction and therefore making better citizens, reducing crime and getting
rid of a great deal of despair, anguish in families and in the community."
he said.

Mr. Hellawell is at present combining his new role with the post of chief
constable of West Yorkshire. His first job when he assumes his drugs post
in January is to produce a strategy to fight drugs south of the border.

He said he was in Scotland to listen and learn from people involved in
drugs, doctors, counsellors and users.

"My job is to coordinate. This visit is, I hope, the first of many, where
I am looking at what's happening in Scotland and in the rest of the United
Kingdom, pulling out what is best practice, listening and learning."