UN ATTACKS BLUNKETT'S NEW CANNABIS LAW

Reclassification 'Undermining Africa's Efforts to Curb Drugs'

Britain's decision to relax the cannabis laws has led to "worldwide
repercussions" including undermining African efforts to curb cultivation of
the illicit plant, a UN drug agency claims.

The International Narcotics Control Board, which is charged with enforcing
the treaties that ban drugs, says it is concerned at David Blunkett's
decision to reclassify cannabis, because it "sends the wrong signal" to the
rest of the world.

The INCB's Nigerian president, Philip Emafo, says in its annual report
published today: "It is important that consensus prevails in international
drug control. No government should take unilateral measures without
considering the impact of its actions and ultimately the consequences for
an entire system that took governments almost a century to establish."

The report says the home secretary's decision "could lead to increased
cultivation of cannabis destined for the UK and other European countries".
A conference held by African law enforcement agencies in Nairobi in
September was told that Mr Blunkett's decision would "undermine the efforts
of governments of African countries to counter illicit cannabis
cultivation, trafficking, and abuse".

The INCB report claims there is "widespread confusion and misunderstanding"
of the policy, with most British schoolchildren believing cannabis is now
legal or even some type of medicine. The reclassification had also caused
confusion among other countries over Britain's attitude towards the
international drug laws.

The INCB conceded yesterday that Mr Blunkett's limited move, meaning simple
possession of cannabis will no longer be an arrestable offence for most
drug users, did not amount to legalisation and did not violate any
international treaties. Indeed the prohibitionist UN agency goes much
further in attacking the Swiss government's proposals that the prosecution
of cannabis offences will no longer be a priority, as it would not be
compatible with drug control treaties. Hamid Ghodse, an INCB member and
professor of pyschiatry at London University, also claimed yesterday the
UK's relaxed law could in 10 or 20 years' time result in Britain's
psychiatric hospitals being filled with people who have problems with cannabis.

In his annual report Mr Emafo not only attacks the "missionary zeal" of
those who support legalisation, but also criticises the "harm reduction"
policies of most Western European countries, arguing that they amount to
"proclaiming that there are safe ways to abuse drugs".

A Home Office spokesman rejected the charge that the policy amounted to
decriminalisation, or that the policy was confused: "It does make clear the
distinction between cannabis and class A drugs such as heroin and crack
cocaine, which are the drugs that cause the most harm and tear apart our
communities."

A British drugs charity, DrugScope, also criticised the UN report as
flawed. Its chief executive, Roger Howard, said: "Throughout Europe,
Australasia and Canada, scientific experts and a growing number of
politicians agree that very strict regimes for cannabis cause more harm to
society than the harm caused by the substance itself."