POLICE CHIEF CALLS FOR DEBATE ON CANNABIS

ONE of Scotland's most senior policemen yesterday called for
politicians and health experts to have a public debate on cannabis
use.

Paddy Tomkins, the new Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police,
hinted that it was time for Scotland to review its existing drugs strategies.

Mr Tomkins made his comments a few weeks after plans to open an
Amsterdam-style cafe in Edinburgh were announced by Kevin Williamson,
a well-known publisher in the city.

Mr Williamson intends to launch an establishment where cannabis will
be openly sold, when new laws that will reclassify the drug as Class C
come into force later this year.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is expected to introduce
legislation in the spring, which would soften the stance on cannabis.
Those caught with a small amount of the drug will be cautioned rather
than arrested.

Although Mr Tomkins declined to say whether a cannabis cafe would be
tolerated by his force, he indicated that an open-minded approach was
needed.

"My broader view on cannabis and other drugs is that the situation
requires a mature and more open debate than we have had to date - not
just police but politicians and health advisers," he said.

Mr Tomkins, who became chief constable earlier this week, said that
the police would enforce the law as it currently stands "with
discretion".

But he said: "We will work very hard to make sure we disrupt and
arrest people who are supplying drugs to the community."

"The damage that drugs do can hardly be overstated, not just to
individuals but to their families. Some surveys show that UKP16,500 (a
year) is spent by hard users and 80 per cent of that is acquired
through crimes like robbery and so on.

"We've got to ask why this is and be prepared to examine our existing
policies."