CANNABIS PROPOSAL IS WIDELY WELCOMED

DAVID BLUNKETT'S proposals to reduce the classification of cannabis were
widely welcomed by everyone from the police to celebrity pot-smokers.

Among those in favour was David Bailey, the photographer who, in 1967, was
one of 64 signatories to a petition to Roy Jenkins, then Home Secretary,
calling for reform of the law. At that time Mr Bailey, along with
luminaries who included John Lennon, Brian Epstein, Paul McCartney,
Jonathan Miller and Kenneth Tynan, signed a famous full-page advertisement
in The Times.

When The Times told Mr Bailey last night of the news, he said: "Oh, good!
About time. It's a step in the right direction. The Home Secretary is very
brave. He confessed to taking the occasional puff of a joint at parties and
said: a oeI do think it ought to be legalised."

Howard Marks, once the most wanted cannabis smuggler in the world and still
a daily user, greeted the move as a significant step but said that he
intended to carry on campaigning for full legalisation. "I welcome the
announcement, he said, "Even if it's a bit too little, a bit too late."

He said that prohibition left its supply in the hands of profiteers and
criminalised the young.

Rosie Boycott, the former Editor of the Daily Express, who campaigned for
the legalisation of cannabis while Editor of the Independent on Sunday,
said: "I'm glad that someone has seen sense to break the criminal
connection and not make yet another generation into small-time criminals.
Blunkett's proposals don't go far enough but this is not a day to carp.
It's a great start."

Sir John Mortimer, the barrister, playwright and author, also welcomed the
move, but said: "I just think they should legalise it and get on with it.
In all the criminal cases I have ever done, no violent crimes came as a
result of someone smoking pot. It was usually huge quantities of drink.

"Everyone uses it "captains of industry, middle-aged mothers, everyone. The
idea that these people should have criminal records is absurd."

Simon Jenkins, a columnist for The Times, was a member of the Police
Foundation committee led by Lady Runciman which recommended last year that
cannabis be reclassified. He welcomed Mr Blunkett's announcement as a step
towards legalisation.

"It's a very, very significant move and very good news," he said. The
Government rubbished our report. They have now done a complete U-turn."
Colin Davis, head of the Medical Marijuana Co-operative, which campaigns
for cannabis to be prescribed for ill people, said that Mr Blunkett's
announcement was decriminalisation through the back door.

Mike Goodman, director of the national drug and alcohol advice charity
Release, said that society had finally grown up. "The announcement is
hugely significant. The Government has recognised and acknowledged that
cannabis is different to the other drugs it is classed with."

The disc jockey S.O.L., whose name stands for Sounds of Love, said: "This
is great news. It means you're not put in any danger. I smoke if I am
stressed out. It just helps me to relax."

The British Lung Foundation said: "There are already tens of thousands of
smoking-related illnesses and deaths a year. Any reclassification of
cannabis should be accompanied by similar health education campaigns as
those the Government run on tobacco smoking."

* With cannabis the most widely used drug in all age groups, the existing
law was increasingly seen as having little credibility (Richard Ford writes).

The 2000 British Crime Survey found that 44 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds
had used cannabis at some time in their life; 22 per cent had used the drug
in the previous year, and 14 per cent in the previous month.

Chief constables, particularly those with large inner city areas, were also
complaining that a great deal of police time was devoted to dealing with
cannabis offences. The recategorisation of cannabis as a class C drug meant
that police officers would no longer have to spend hours dealing with
offenders. Someone found in possession of cannabis will be cautioned, given
a formal warning or issued with a summons to appear at court.

It is likely that police will arrest people possessing with cannabis only
if they are found to have a large amount or are persistent offenders.

Present classes and penalties Class A. Heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy and LSD.
Arrestable offence.

Penalty: Magistratesa TM Court: six months or a fine of AUKP5,000 or both;
Crown Court: Seven years or an unlimited fine or both.

Class B. Amphetamines, cannabis. Arrestable offence.

Penalty: Magistratesa TM Court: three months or AUKP2,500 fine or both;
Crown Court: five years or an unlimited fine or both.

Class C. Anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines. Non-arrestable offence.

Penalty: Magistrates' TM Court: three months or a fine of UKP1,000 or both;
Crown Court: two years or an unlimited fine or both.