BRITAIN MOVES TO RELAX MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair's government moved yesterday to relax
its laws on marijuana. The move stops short of legalization but would
guarantee most users will get off with just a warning while police focus
their enforcement efforts on harder drugs.

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
in most cases would simply confiscate the drug and issue a warning.

The proposed downgrade would put marijuana on a par with anabolic steroids
instead of amphetamines and barbiturates, the drugs it is grouped with now.
Blair's Labor Party has a large majority in Parliament, and the proposal is
certain to pass.

The opposition Conservative Party criticized the proposal as potentially
dangerous.