CONTROLLING DRUG USE

DR RUSSELL Newcombe, of Liverpool John Moores University, has good reason
to question a cannabis reclassification policy that leaves distribution in
the hands of dealers who cut the drug with motor oil, dirt, glue,
turpentine, disinfectant, ketamine, melted-down vinyl and animal faeces.

Home Secretary David Blunkett's reclassification of cannabis is merely a
step in the right direction. There is a big difference betw eencondoning
cannabis use and protecting children from drugs.

Decriminalisation acknowledges the social reality of cannabis use and frees
users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's really
needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and
soft drug markets is critical.

As long as cannabis remains illegal, and is distributed by organised
criminals,consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard
drugs like crack cocaine.

Given that cannabis is arguably safer than legal alcohol - the plant has
never been sho wn to cause an overdose death - it makes no sense to waste
tax revenue on failed policies that finance organised crime and facilitate
the use of hard drugs.

Drug law reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think
the children themselves are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe, MPA, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy,
Washington DC, USA