MARIJUANA LAWS

British Ease Up On Enforcement

Great Britain has ended a six-month experiment in relaxing its drug
laws. Although the country has not decriminalized marijuana, police
basically ignored its public use by letting marijuana smokers off with
a mere warning during the experiment in South London.

The results pleased police as well as, of course, pot smokers--Neither
of whom had to worry about legalities. Marijuana users took advantage
of the opportunity to indulge their habits without fear. Police say
easing enforcement of marijuana laws freed them up to pursue more
serious problems.

Under the proposed laws expected to pass Parliament, police will issue
warnings for use and possession of small amounts of the drug, although
there will be stronger penalties for selling drugs.

With little to fear from police, marijuana users did not hesitate to
light up in public.

"People started smoking openly, whereas before they'd have their
little hideaways," said the Rev. Chris Andre-Watson, pastor of the
Brixton Baptist Church who runs a mentoring program for teen-age boys.
He told the New York Times that the drug experiment left many youths
"zombied out."

Troubled residents fear that more than marijuana is being exchanged.
"It's not like people stand on one side of the street dealing
cannabis, and on the other side they're dealing crack and cocaine.
It's the same person," said Ros Griffiths, director of the employment
Cafe, a job center and internet coffee shop.

Trying to defend his habit, one user said, "We really don't see it as
a drug at all. ...Although sometimes days go by-- and before you know
it a week's gone by, and you haven't done anything you're supposed to
do."

Like others hawking legal goods or products, dealers set up shop on
the streets with no fear of repercussions from police. One dealer used
a loud speaker to solicit business at the farmer's market in Brixton
in South London, "Come and get your weed here!"

The explosion of what, critics say, the country can expect when it
eases the drug laws nationally.