cannabisnews.com: Blunkett Defends 'Liberal' Drugs Policy





Blunkett Defends 'Liberal' Drugs Policy
Posted by FoM on March 19, 2002 at 09:59:40 PT
By Jimmy Burns, Social Affairs Correspondent
Source: Financial Times UK
David Blunkett, the home secretary, has defended his drugs reform programme after the removal from his post of the senior police officer responsible for pioneering the government's more liberal policy towards cannabis possession. The Home Office said: "There is absolutely no change. Government policy does not depend on this one individual." 
The damage-limitation exercise was under way as Brian Paddick, the controversial police commander in Lambeth, south London, was taken off operational duties and transferred to a lower-profile administrative role at Scotland Yard, pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations that he allowed his flat to be used for cannabis smoking. Mr Paddick was named in tabloid newspaper reports over the weekend alleging that he had smoked cannabis and allowed a gay lover to use the drug in their shared flat. Mr Paddick has denied using cannabis but admitted that his former partner did so in their flat against his wishes. The officer is being investigated by a police force outside the London area, under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority, over allegations that he breached disciplinary regulations, including failing to inform his superiors that his lover was on police bail pending a fraud investigation during their relationship. Mr Paddick believes that he is a victim of an orchestrated campaign against him involving homophobic members of the police force who envy his success. But Lord Harris, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said the issue was not Mr Paddick's sexual orientation but whether he had been involved in criminal activity and alleged breach of police procedures. He indicated that if the allegations were proved, Mr Paddick would face dismissal. Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, the latest controversy surrounding Mr Paddick has, according to fellow officers, irrevocably damaged his chances of meeting his ambition of becoming commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He has won as many foes as friends outside the police service by adopting an open policy both on his sexuality and drugs policy. Source: Financial Times (UK)Author: Jimmy Burns, Social Affairs CorrespondentPublished: March 18, 2002 Copyright: The Financial Times Limited 2002Website: http://www.ft.com/Contact: letters.editor ft.comRelated Articles:Scotland Yard Investigates Marijuana Complaint http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12282.shtmlPolice Chief Faces Inquiry Over Tale of Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12268.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by Ethan Russo MD on March 20, 2002 at 08:14:47 PT:
More from that Article:
"I think they're entirely wrong and I think the consequences for society of legalising cannabis will be bad in many ways," says Daily Mail editor Peter Hitchens. "It will increase crime, it will increase lassitude and sloth, it will increase the general level of drug-taking in society, because it will introduce more people to the idea that drug-taking is nothing wrong." The editor is entitled to an opinion, but I am surprised that he is apparently unaware of the facts a short hop across the North Sea. Holland has pursued similar policies and absolutely none of his fears have been realized. Dutch teens get honest information on a wide range of drugs, alcohol, and sex, and you know what, most of them become upstanding, mature, healthy, and responsible adults! My 5 days in Holland last summer were an absolute revelation as to what constitutes the best in society and human nature: reason, compassion, sensibility, and tolerance. It is truly representative of what America is supposed to be.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 20, 2002 at 08:03:03 PT
UK Pot Smokers Plan Cannabis Cafes
A UK drug advisory group has suggested that marijuana be downgraded from a Class B to Class C drug  
By CNN's Hala Gorani
Worthing, England (CNN) -- Chris Baldwin has been smoking the equivalent of 10 cannabis joints a day for the last 33 years. 
He says Britain's plan to go softer on marijuana consumption makes Dutch-style coffee shops the next natural step. 
And when he finds a locale, he says, he's opening his own pot shop in the small southern sea town of Worthing. 
"I would like to provide a full Dutch-style coffee shop menu -- a selection of eight to 10 grasses, eight to 10 hashes, all good, clean, excellent quality," says Baldwin. 
Britain's main drug advisory group recently suggested cannabis be downgraded from a Class B drug, like amphetamines, to a Class C substance, like steroids. 
That means pot would still be illegal, but selling and consuming it would become minor offences -- the kind rarely enforced. 
Now coffee shop campaigners are determined to take advantage of the government's softer stance on certain drugs. 
And with coffee shops in the planning across the country from Manchester to Worthing, some say Britain is going down the wrong path. 
Snipped
Complete Article: http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/03/20/cannabis.britain/index.html
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Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on March 19, 2002 at 22:54:11 PT
What do tabloids pay for hooker-cop confessions?
I imagine that Paddick's lover must have gotten a nice payment for his tabloid tell-all, but straight London cops have plenty of secrets to hide, and they'd better hope that they stay hidden.
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Comment #3 posted by Nuevo Mexican on March 19, 2002 at 17:10:44 PT
Here is the reason:
"Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, the latest controversy surrounding Mr Paddick has, according to fellow officers, irrevocably damaged his chances of meeting his ambition of becoming commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He has won as many foes as friends outside the police service by adopting an open policy both on his sexuality and drugs policy." Guess what: this will backfire bigtime as you and I know that it is due to his openness about being gay, his current position on the police force and envy over his successs. Heads will roll over this, as the 'old boys school' of tricks has fallen by the wayside.
The average person is the U.K. is smarter than the average police department top brass. Have they no insight into the effect this has on discrediting their anti-drug, anti-gay, anti-human approach. Can't wait for the follow-up articles. Mark my words. Have a speedy recovery dddd! Keep up the good work FOM, the wall is coming down! Your role is major!
Thanks for setting a great example! 
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Comment #2 posted by freddybigbee on March 19, 2002 at 12:21:02 PT:
He did what?
Ooooh! He allowed his flat to be used for cannabis smoking.Better ruin his career and reputation, for his own good, and that of the children.
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on March 19, 2002 at 10:53:48 PT
How I love British crime drama
Drama with a capital "D"!I hope someone writes this into a nice episode of some London detective show.It has all the makings. Romance, revenge, injustice, liberalising muckety mucks from on high, vengeful coppers out to harm one of their own from below...All that's missing is the corpse, but that can always be written into the script once the human element is there.
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