AGENDA - MP'S FURY AT CANNABIS MOVES

BRITAIN'S stringent cannabis laws are to be relaxed next spring. Home
Secretary David Blunkett said possession of cannabis should no longer be an
arrestable offence and it should be re-classified as a "Class C" drug - the
same as anti-depressants or steroids. It is remarkable turnaround for
Labour, who pledged "zero tolerance" on drugs when they came to power in
1997, and it has sparked an angry reaction from the city MP Helen Clark.
Features Editor Rachael Gordon reports.

FOR years it's been seen as a hippy drug smoked by students and drop-outs
in dingy bedsits.

And arguments have raged furiously as to whether cannabis is a harmless
social habit or the first rung on the ladder to serious drug abuse. Its a
debate refuelled this week as Home Secretary David Blunkett announced
proposals to relax the laws on possessing cannabis, which could come into
force next spring.

It would mean that possessing cannabis would no longer be an arrestable
offence, and it would be re-classified from a class B to class C drug. Then
cannabis possession would be dealt with by either a caution, which would go
on a criminal record, or by summons, where the offender would be called to
magistrates court to face a possible fine in the same way as many driving
offences are dealt with.

The maximum sentence for possessing the drug would also drop from five to
two years.

Mr Blunkett also signalled the use of cannabis for pain relief purposes
would be authorised. But he emphasised: "There is no intention by me, or by
other ministers, or the Prime Minister, that we legalise or decriminalise."

Supporters today welcomed the move, and said it would free police to deal
with the scourge of harder drugs, like heroin and cocaine, which were
becoming more prevalent on our streets. But critics warned it could have
serious health implications, causing mental health problems and add to the
thousands of smoking related illnesses and deaths a year.

So what do people in Peterborough think?

The move has sparked an angry reaction from the city's Labour MP Helen
Clark, who said she was completely opposed to the changes and "dumbfounded"
as to why the Home Secretary had made the decision.

She said: "I don't agree with it. In fact, I am very unhappy indeed.

"I personally think it sends out totally the wrong message about drug use.
"If we re-classify it, the implicit message is that it is all right, and we
know that isn't true.

"There are some very severe health risks which are only just coming to
light. The medicinal benefits to multiple sclerosis sufferers are often
cited, but we don't hear so much about research that has shown it may be a
trigger and contributory factor in precipitating mental illness such as
schizophrenia. What we don't hear about is the research showing possible
links with male sterility and cancer.

"And I am not convinced there isn't a link between starting on cannabis and
going onto other harder drugs. People who are in that environment will also
be coming into contact with ecstasy and cocaine as well."

She added: "And what I don't understand is why, when we recognise that
drugs are the most evil menace in society, and we have appointed a drugs
Tsar, given money to drugs projects in Peterborough, including Bridgegate,
and The Drugs Action Team, and have our own Drugs Tsar, Verina McEwan, why
we are now on the road to decriminalisation.

"If people think they are not going to get punished, they'll think they
might as well do it.

"The Home Secretary's argument that it leaves us free to deal with more
serious drugs is too sophisticated.

"The average kid who is tempted by drugs in Peterborough won't understand
this, they'll just think smoking cannabis isn't a problem any more."

Meanwhile, Peterborough's representative for the Legalise Cannabis
Alliance, Marcus Davies (33), of Whitacre, Parnwell, Peterborough, welcomed
the move, but said it didn't go far enough. As an epileptic, he said he had
seen first-hand cannabis's medicinal uses. He said before he started
smoking the drug in 1988, he had fits and seizures nearly every day. But in
the last 13 years he's only had eight.

He said: "It is a start, and shows that David Blunkett has been listening
to what people have been saying for years, but it's only that a start.

"It still doesn't solve the problems of actually getting hold of the drug.
We still have to buy it from the cretins on the council estate who would
sooner be selling you something else like heroin or cocaine.

"What needs to happen is for the drug to be totally legalised so I can go
to a tobacconist and buy it like we can buy cigarettes. At the moment you
don't know what you're getting, or how strong it is, or if you are being
ripped off. "Although it looks like my medicinal needs will be taken care
of, it still doesn't tackle the issue that people like to take the drug
socially.

"And why not? People who go out and drink alcohol and get drunk get violent
and want to fight, but people who get stoned don't. They want to sit and
socialise and philosophise."

Home Office figures show nearly 82,000 people were arrested for
cannabis-related offences in 1999, more than double the figure for
1990. And last year, out of the 699 people dealt with by Cambridgeshire
Police for possessing drugs, 499 were for cannabis.

The argument goes that if the new laws are brought in then surely it would
free up the police to deal with other more serious drugs-related crimes?

Today, Cambridgeshire Police gave a guarded welcome to Mr Blunkett's
announcement, but said it would continue to uphold current laws until any
changes are made.

Cambridgeshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Tom Lloyd said: "We welcome
the initiative taken by the Home Secretary to further explore the
recommendation to re-classify cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug by
seeking advice from scientific and medical experts on the Advisory Council
on the Misuse of Drugs.

"This will ensure the fullest consideration is given to the proposals
before a final decision is made by Government, and is a sensible way forward."

Drugs workers in Peterborough also welcomed the proposals, but said it did
not mean cannabis safe. Lisa Mellan, deputy manager of Bridgegate Drugs
Service, based in Broadway, Peterborough, said: "We welcome the decision to
downgrade cannabis, because it came about following a healthy debate.

"We support what the Government says about enabling us to concentrate on
drugs which do more harm like heroin and cocaine. There isn't a lot of
evidence to suggest it is the gateway drug, so we don't think this will
lead to cannabis users going onto harder drugs.

"However, it's important to stress it is not suitable for everyone and
smoking cannabis can make some people very ill. By relaxing the laws does
not mean it is a safe drug."