Phil Stovell
2006-08-07 06:59:25 UTC
<http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news3.shtml>
CANNABIS DISASTER
By Ian Kirby & Philip Whiteside
RELAXING laws against cannabis has ended in disaster — and caused an
EXPLOSION in hard drugs abuse.
That is the damning verdict of a secret dossier compiled by Tony Blair's
own No10 Strategy Unit.
Their confidential report, seen by the News of the World, reveals how the
government's decision to decriminalise cannabis two years ago has enabled
dealers to wean a flood of new users on to deadly drugs, such as crack
cocaine and heroin.
It says: "The vast majority of local drug dealers will use cannabis as an
easy way of making money and increasing their client base.
Streets
"They will seek to secure more hard drug clients from among that base.
"Recent changes to the law have increased the number of people taking
cannabis. The amount of hard-drug abuse has also increased. Although more
research is needed, it appears the two rises are connected."
The report's findings were confirmed by News of the World investigators,
who discovered our streets are riddled with cannabis dealers. It took just
MINUTES to buy the drug in five cities across the country—and many
pedlars were also pushing hard drugs.
When cannabis was downgraded to a Class C "soft" drug, the government
claimed there was no evidence to suggest its use would encourage people to
try harder drugs. But the new report concludes that almost all "high
harm-causing drug users" (heroin and crack addicts) began by smoking
cannabis.
There are now estimated to be 3.5million regular cannabis users in
Britain—A FIFTH more than in 1997.
In public, the government insists that educating the public about the
dangers of the drug, instead of punishing people for using it, is the only
workable policy.
But privately, the No10 Strategy Unit warn: "Far more drugs are used now
than in the past. The supply market is highly sophisticated and attempts
to intervene have not resulted in sustainable disruption to the market at
any level."
The Downing Street team's cannabis findings are part of a report on the
overall drugs problem. It reveals that it is now EASIER to buy hard drugs
on Britain's streets than ever before.
The report warns 260,000 heroin addicts spend £4 billion a year on the
drug and cause £16 BILLION of crime to fund their drug habits.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis branded the government's drugs policy
was a "total disaster".
He added: "Many continue to think cannabis is a safe, soft drug. They
still wrongly think it is legal.
"And many more young lives will be damaged by the pernicious trade in this
dangerous drug."
CANNABIS DISASTER
By Ian Kirby & Philip Whiteside
RELAXING laws against cannabis has ended in disaster — and caused an
EXPLOSION in hard drugs abuse.
That is the damning verdict of a secret dossier compiled by Tony Blair's
own No10 Strategy Unit.
Their confidential report, seen by the News of the World, reveals how the
government's decision to decriminalise cannabis two years ago has enabled
dealers to wean a flood of new users on to deadly drugs, such as crack
cocaine and heroin.
It says: "The vast majority of local drug dealers will use cannabis as an
easy way of making money and increasing their client base.
Streets
"They will seek to secure more hard drug clients from among that base.
"Recent changes to the law have increased the number of people taking
cannabis. The amount of hard-drug abuse has also increased. Although more
research is needed, it appears the two rises are connected."
The report's findings were confirmed by News of the World investigators,
who discovered our streets are riddled with cannabis dealers. It took just
MINUTES to buy the drug in five cities across the country—and many
pedlars were also pushing hard drugs.
When cannabis was downgraded to a Class C "soft" drug, the government
claimed there was no evidence to suggest its use would encourage people to
try harder drugs. But the new report concludes that almost all "high
harm-causing drug users" (heroin and crack addicts) began by smoking
cannabis.
There are now estimated to be 3.5million regular cannabis users in
Britain—A FIFTH more than in 1997.
In public, the government insists that educating the public about the
dangers of the drug, instead of punishing people for using it, is the only
workable policy.
But privately, the No10 Strategy Unit warn: "Far more drugs are used now
than in the past. The supply market is highly sophisticated and attempts
to intervene have not resulted in sustainable disruption to the market at
any level."
The Downing Street team's cannabis findings are part of a report on the
overall drugs problem. It reveals that it is now EASIER to buy hard drugs
on Britain's streets than ever before.
The report warns 260,000 heroin addicts spend £4 billion a year on the
drug and cause £16 BILLION of crime to fund their drug habits.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis branded the government's drugs policy
was a "total disaster".
He added: "Many continue to think cannabis is a safe, soft drug. They
still wrongly think it is legal.
"And many more young lives will be damaged by the pernicious trade in this
dangerous drug."
--
Phil Stovell, South Hampshire, UK
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather
let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife"
Phil Stovell, South Hampshire, UK
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather
let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife"