'SOFT' LINE ON SOFT DRUGS NOT OK

SIREN calls for the legalisation of cannabis have been answered by the
Liberal Democrats. At the spring conference in Manchester they voted also
to decriminalise the drug, scrap jail sentences for possession - of any
drug for personal use, and to down-grade Ecstasy

Supporters of the move believe the way forward to beat the growing drugs
menace in Britain is to open more rehabilitation facilities and impose
tougher sentences for those caught selling drugs near schools rather than
making criminals of people who use drugs, mostly for personal recreation.

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said: "The party has decided that the
criminal law should concentrate on the dealers, traffickers and exploiters
of drugs rather than the users who need help and treatment."

Mr Kennedy and his party are wrong. Those who are hooked on cocaine and
heroin started on cannabis and moved on through recreational drugs such as
Ecstasy

Parents of school-age children are likely to be horrified that the Liberal
Democrats have adopted a policy that signals it is all right to possess and
use any drug, many of which are potentially fatal.

Courageously Colchester's Bob Russell was the only Lib Dem MP to speak
against his party's decision. Rightly he pointed out that it would allow
opponents to portray the Lib Dems as soft on drugs.

He added; "My colleagues are as opposed to substance abuse as I am - where
we disagree is the method of dealing with the problem.

'A teenager is more likely to die from an Ecstasy overdose than being
murdered by a complete stranger We must be careful that we are not sending
out the wrong signal to voters."

Since becoming leader, Mr Kennedy has grown in stature as a politician who
is not afraid to take principled stands on a whole range of social issues.
By its conference vote on drugs, the Liberal Democrats could have put that
reputation in danger