cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Law Could Soften, Says Mowlam Cannabis Law Could Soften, Says Mowlam Posted by FoM on November 06, 2000 at 10:09:16 PT By George Jones, Political Editor Source: Daily Telegraph (UK) Mo Mowlam, the Cabinet Office Minister, hinted yesterday that the Government might consider decriminalising cannabis if research showed that it did not lead to hard drugs. She said long-term alcohol abuse had much worse effects than cannabis use over a similar period.Dr Mowlam, who is in charge of Government drug policy, suggested that Labour was prepared to consider relaxation of the law if scientific evidence showed that it was not harmful or addictive. But she made clear that there was no change in Labour's 10-year drugs strategy, which recognised that heroin and cocaine were the most dangerous drugs. At present, cannabis remained illegal and its use was not condoned by the Government. Any changes in the law would be based on scientific evidence. The suggestion that one whiff of "whacky baccy" ended in heroin addiction had always been an overstatement. It could be that drug pushers persuaded cannabis users to try heroin, she told BBC Television's On the Record programme.Dr Mowlam's remarks came days after her Cabinet Office colleague Ian McCartney - whose son Hugh died of a heroin overdose aged 23 last year - called for a "new realism" on drugs.Mr McCartney's admission that the Government's "Just Say No" campaign had not worked was interpreted by some observers as a sign that Labour was preparing to soften its stance on cannabis before the second annual report tomorrow from Keith Hellawell, the Government's anti-drugs co-ordinator.Dr Mowlam also let slip her belief that Tony Blair will call a general election next spring. The widespread belief at Westminster is that it will be held in May. Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)Author: George Jones, Political EditorPublished: November 6, 2000Copyright: Telegraph Group Limited 2000Contact: dtletters telegraph.co.ukWebsite: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Related Articles & Web Site:UKCIA http://www.ukcia.org/Campaign To Legalize Marijuana Use in Britain http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7303.shtmlTop British Tories Admit Soft Drug Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7290.shtmlNo Clash Over Cannabis - Governmenthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread4443.shtmlBritain's Anti-Drug Chief Mowlam Smoked Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread4335.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by hard rock on November 07, 2000 at 07:49:37 PT: legalize!!! I think that the gov. should look out for the public's well being they either need to find a way to tax mary jane or leave us the hell alone. they have all this information that no 1 has ever died from cannabis and that it dosent lead to harder drugs. They are more worried about marijuana than they are coke or acid or any drug like that and marijuana is the easiest drug there is if you know what I mean. way more people die from alchol that mari. and I as a teen can get my hands on beer or wiskey a whole lot easier. And 1 more thing marijuana is not a drug its a herb like ginseng and ginco or cooking herbs like parsley flakes. Piece out and always remember overgrow the gov. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by DREW on November 06, 2000 at 18:16:11 PT: LEGALIZE SHEEEEEEIT LEGALIZE THAT CHRONIC [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by AOCP on November 06, 2000 at 11:24:35 PT: Obviousness of it all >At present, cannabis remained illegal and its use was not condoned by the Government.How much more obvious does it have to become? There are TONS of substances and activities that are NOT condoned by the gov't, but they're nowhere NEAR illegal! Dry out that argument and you can fertilize the lawn. I applaud what they're trying to do, (hey, everybody! common sense! what an archeological find!) but this is way too long in the coming. Get ready for the moralists b/c here they come... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on November 06, 2000 at 10:48:39 PT How many more studies??? Yowza! How many more studies need to be conducted to provide the same information!?!? Are there ANY studies that show that marijuana DOES lead to harder drugs?? Just more stalling...but at least it looks like we'll have legal marijuana in the U.K. SOON!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: