Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jun 2000
Source: Liberty Magazine (US)
Copyright: 2000 Liberty Foundation
Contact:  Box 1118, Port Townsend, WA  98368
Website: http://www.libertysoft.com/liberty/index.html
Author: Alan Bock
Note: Mr. Bock is a contributing editor for Liberty and the Orange County
Register's senior editorial writer.

SMOKING ON THE THAMES

Britain's Labour government now plans to legalize cannabis (or marijuana) 
for medical uses, according to a March 24 report from Reuters. The move 
surprises some, but is said to be a compromise between Mo Mowlam, the 
cabinet minister in charge of anti-drug strategies, who wanted a study on 
full decriminalization of marijuana, and Prime Minister Tony Blair, who 
preferred no change.

The move may have been prodded also by a report from the Police Foundation, 
headed by Prince Charles, which recommended that marijuana use be 
"depenalized." Meanwhile, in California, the people voted for 
medicalization of marijuana in 1996 and patients still have trouble getting 
authorities to recognize their rights instead of throwing them in the 
calaboose.

Alan Bock
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