Cannabis News Students for Sensible Drug Policy
  Former Minister Attempts To Legalise Cannabis
Posted by FoM on July 18, 2001 at 17:24:01 PT
By Nigel Morris, Political Correspondent 
Source: Independent 

cannabis A former Labour Minister launched a House of Commons move to legalise cannabis on Wednesday. Although Jon Owen Jones's backbench Bill received an unopposed first reading, it would need to win Government support to become law.

His Legalisation of Cannabis Bill, modelled on laws in the Netherlands, seeks to "legalise and regulate the sale, supply and use of cannabis for recreational and therapeutic purposes". He admits that cannabis can damage health, but that it should not be Government's role to outlaw harmful substances.

He argues that prohibition of the substance has patently not worked. Mr Jones, a former Welsh Office Minister, recently admitted smoking cannabis in the past and enjoying the experience.

He said: "I smoked it on several social occasions when I was a student and a young man, as did many of my friends and colleagues. I would not have taken it more than once if I did not like it."

Mr Jones, a science teacher before being elected for Cardiff Central in 1992, said he had not used drugs for more than 20 years, but now it was time to review drugs legislation.

He drew up his Bill after winning ninth place in the ballot of backbench MPs to introduce their own legislation. Most Cabinet Ministers fiercely oppose relaxing the laws on soft drugs, but David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, has said Britain needs an "adult, intelligent debate" on the subject.

The issue emerged as a central theme of the Conservative leadership contest when Peter Lilley, a former deputy party leader, argued that laws on cannabis use were "unenforceable and indefensible" and called for it to be sold through regulated off-licences.

First on the list of Bills, and with a a strong chance of success, is a measure piloted by John Randall, the Tory MP for Uxbridge, to give more environmental protection to marine species. He wants to see marine conservation areas given the same legal protection as areas designated sites of special scientific interest.

Third is the Age Equality Commission Bill through which Candy Atherton, Labour MP for Falmouth and Camborne, seeks to set up a commission to advise ministers on discrimination issues in relation to older people. The former Health Secretary, Frank Dobson is introducing a Bill requiring companies selling tobacco products in the UK to disclose the scientific and market research they have carried out.

Complete Title: Former Minister Launches Attempt To Legalise Sale, Supply and Use of Cannabis

Source: Independent (UK)
Author: Nigel Morris, Political Correspondent
Published: July 19, 2001
Copyright: 2001 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact: letters@independent.co.uk
Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/

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Labour MP To Call for Cannabis Legalisation
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10344.shtml

Ex-Health Minister: 'Legalise Cannabis'
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10329.shtml

CannabisNews Articles - UK
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on July 20, 2001 at 06:03:22 PT:

Sudaca, I couldn't have put it better
This is why I keep saying that the US getting thrown off the UN Narcotics Control Board was such a pivotal move; almost all of the events in Great Britain and elsewhere happened within weeks after Uncle was asked to leave. The bully had left the playground; now the other kids have had time to regroup and plan their defensive strategies.

Which contain plans that are the exact opposite of what Uncle wants.

The latest dialogue taking place in Great Britain is proof of this; this kind of public debate never happend before with such forcefulness while Uncle was sitting on everyone at the UNNCB.

The self-proclaimed "Leader of the Free World" must now contend with nations who, tired of all the propaganda, are saying it's 'raise or call'; either Uncle lives up to his polemics about a nations' right to self-determination - i.e. drug policy - or he can shut his biscuit-trap.

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Comment #2 posted by Kush on July 19, 2001 at 11:41:02 PT:

Adult debate? What ever next?!!
It's amazing isn't it cousins. I'm british and I can hardly believe my eyes reading some of these recent stories. Many have come out with their true opinions in an amazingly short space of time.



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Comment #1 posted by Sudaca on July 19, 2001 at 08:52:04 PT
bizarre
"legalise and regulate the sale, supply and use of cannabis for recreational and therapeutic purposes"

who would have thought the United States of Americanos had to fight to get independence of the tyranny of the Brits.

200 years later it looks like the Brits are starting to fight off the tyranny of the United States.



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