NO LAXITY HERE ON CANNABIS, VOWS MINISTER

IRELAND will not follow the UK's example and make the possession of
cannabis a non-arrestable offence, the Minister for the National Drugs
Strategy, Noel Ahern, pledged last night, writes Helen Bruce.

The UK has proposed re-classifying cannabis from Class B to Class C,
allowing greater discretion for police dealing with cannabis users.
However, the Minister said under Irish law, gardai had such
discretionary powers.

He said it would be "extremely imprudent" to consider legalising
cannabis, due to its adverse health effects. He said cannabis smoke
had three times more cancer-causing chemicals than the highest tar
tobacco.