July 2001
There has again been movement on the
UK political
scene regarding cannabis
law. Firsty, the very respected
journalist/
writer Nick Davies wrote an
article and made a
TV program advocating, in particular, the reconsideration of
law on
Heroine and subsequent
legalisation of that '
hard'
drug. Several figures came out supporting his, and making their own, call for
relaxation/changing of
UK drug laws.
The most surprising movement has again come from the
Conservative Party, which is of course surprising in itself.
Michael Portillo, the current favourite to win the
leadership
election for that
party, has been trying to take a
liberal and more '
tolerant' line for his
campaign and included in this have been hints at a serious reconsideration of the
prohibition of cannabis.
Peter Lilly, a former
Tory Deputy Prime Minister and
Portillo supporter, then came forward in outright support of the
legalisation of
marijuana. Since, however, and in response to some outrage from the
Right,
portillo has been
forced to make it clear that he does not plan to
legalise the
drug, but just to look at
policy. Oh well, better than nothing, again!
October 2000
Recently in the
UK there has been increasing
pressure for cannabis to be
legalised. Several
Shadow Cabinet members admitted to having used the
drug, and several high standing
people have advocated the
decriminalisation. Also, a poll in the
Daily Mail, a traditionaly
right-wing paper, indicated that the majority of people would be in favour or allowing use and possetion but not
dealing/
smuggling, through a
poll. This
policy doesn't make much
sense to me as I think people should be allowed to use the
drug on
grounds of
freedom. The result still reflects a change in
opinion, however, and
legal cannabis use can only be good!