LIB-DEMS VOTE TO LEGALISE CANNABIS

THE legalisation of cannabis was adopted as official Liberal Democrat
policy last night.

Going against the advice of the party's own policy group - which had wanted
to decriminalise the drug - members voted in favour of all-out legalisation.

They also approved calls at their spring conference in Manchester for
doctors to be given the power to prescribe heroin to addicts.

Last night, the party's home affairs spokesman, Simon Hughes, said the
decision had not been taken lightly.

Delegates at the conference had been presented with a paper, supported by
senior figures in the party, calling for the effective decriminalisation of
the drug.

Under the proposals, people in possession of the class B drug would no
longer be imprisoned.

But delegates opted to go one step further and back legalisation, a policy
that will now have to be included in the party's manifesto at the next
election.

They also voted at the conference to accept a second amendment calling for
doctors to be given the power to prescribe heroin to addicts.

Speaking after the decision, Hughes said: "This isn't a rush of blood to
the head, we have taken two years to look at the evidence.

"My experience is that people who have had the tragedy of drugs come into
their lives know that the current law doesn't work and they want another
alternative."

Hughes acknowledged that the party would have to persuade the electorate of
the merits of its position.

"We have to go out and sell the message," he said.

Charles Kennedy, the party's leader, said that having the confidence and
maturity to discuss the legal status of cannabis did the party "no harm".