cannabisnews.com: Tories Consider Instant Fine for Cannabis Users!





Tories Consider Instant Fine for Cannabis Users!
Posted by FoM on August 15, 1999 at 20:55:52 PT
By Polly Newton
Source: Electronic Telegraph
ANN WIDDECOMBE, the shadow home secretary, stepped into the drug debate yesterday by disclosing that the Tories were considering on-the-spot fines for possession of cannabis.
Many police officers are against instant fines without arrest or prosecution, but Miss Widdecombe stressed that she did not favour anything that might be interpreted as decriminalisation. Miss Widdecombe said she would investigate the potential effect of new penalties for those caught with the drug, suggesting that the Conservatives plan to tackle the drugs issue in their next manifesto.Her comments came after Charles Kennedy, the new Liberal Democrat leader, called for a Royal Commission to investigate legalisation of the Class B drug. In an interview which could open a political minefield for his party, he accused mainstream politicians of being out of step with public opinion and called for a drastic rethink on drugs policy.Mr Kennedy urged the Government to set up a commission which would review the position on all drugs and consider legalising cannabis. There was "hardly a family in the land" that was not worried about drugs, he said.A spokesman for the party said Mr Kennedy was not personally for or against legalisation but felt that there should be a debate. Mr Kennedy's comments were welcomed by Mike Goodman, of the drugs charity Release, which is in favour of legalising cannabis.Mr Goodman said: "For a leader of one of the three main political parties to be making this statement now represents the drug debate coming of age. Now is the time to talk and consider not only the case to reform the drug laws, but how a reform system could be put in practice."Roger Howard, chief executive of the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse, said: "Some might interpret fines as decriminalisation, others might see it as a more sensible arrangement which would still be punitive."But Ian Westwood, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said fines would not have the same deterrent effect as arrest and caution or prosecution and it would be too easy for offenders to default on payments. It could also deprive the police of valuable intelligence about drug suppliers, he said.ISSUE 1543 Monday 16 August 1999Kennedy Reopens 'Legalise Cannabis' Debate - 8/15/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2496.shtml
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