CALL TO DECRIMINALISE 'SAFE CANNABIS'

A TOP doctor has called for the decriminalisation of cannabis - because it
is ''less harmful'' than alcohol to his heroin addict patients.

Dr Tony Quinnell, senior clinical medical officer at St Thomas's Hospital
in Stockport, says addicts risk their lives if they mix alcohol with heroin
and methadone.

He said: ''Many of my clients tell me that they would either smoke cannabis
or drink alcohol and there are very significant harmful effects with alcohol.

''If it were legal for them to use it, for the majority of clients it would
be less harmful to them than alcohol.

''I have to tell them the legal implications and health risks associated
with cannabis use as well. It has been linked to mouth, tongue and lung
cancer because of the smoking.

''Opiates are considerably more harmful, they cause immense physical harm
and are highly dependant.

Alcohol risks

''Legally, I must not encourage cannabis use but I know that there are
substantial risks to my clients if they drink alcohol, including a
significant death rate.

''Tobacco and alcohol are, in effect, decriminalised drugs, they are sold
under licence and there are restrictions on who they are sold to.

''Legalising cannabis would be technically difficult but in my opinion,
looking at the evidence, I can see very few reasons for not decriminalising
it.''

Dr Quinnell is taking part in a conference on cannabis and its new legal
status organised by the North West Public Health Observatory in Liverpool.

Medical experts, police officers, addiction specialists and representatives
of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance are also attending.

Pro-cannabis campaigner Colin Davies, from Stockport, claims the drug can
be an effective treatment for pain. He smokes the drug to combat chronic
back pain and opened a cannabis cafe in the town. He is now in prison
awaiting trial for possession of the drug.