BRITS EASE POT LAWS

LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair's government moved yesterday to relax
its laws on marijuana, stopping short of legalization but guaranteeing most
users will get off with a warning while police focus their enforcement on
harder drugs.

Under the proposal, marijuana would be downgraded from a Class B to a Class
C drug, making its use and possession less serious crimes, Home Secretary
David Blunkett said in outlining the plan to the House of Commons. Police
would retain the authority to arrest those caught with marijuana, but will
confiscate the drug and issue a warning.

"Cannabis is a potentially harmful drug and should remain illegal. However,
it is not comparable with crack, heroin and Ecstasy," Blunkett said.