Pubdate: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 2002 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454 Author: Stewart Tendler HALF OF POLICE HAVE TRIED CANNABIS HALF of police officers questioned about enforcing the law on using cannabis admitted that they had taken the drug at some time in their lives. The research now being studied by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, was carried out among Metropolitan and South Yorkshire police and shows that many support a more liberal approach. Many clearly would support the Lambeth experiment in South London where users are given a warning and lose their drugs. Some have already been informally using a similar approach. The research will bolster Mr Blunkett's plans to make cannabis use a less serious offence by making it a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 rather than a Class B one. In the research 150 frontline patrol officers who would carry out stop and search operations for drugs were questioned anoymously for the Joseph Rowntree Trust. Half admitted using the drug. The researchers also found that 85 per cent of those who had used the drug were prepared to be more tolerant in their treatment of users. When the researchers asked the officers about the current legislation three quarters complained that drug laws criminalise people who would not otherwise have records. Over half also believed that cannabis legislation harmed relations between police and young people, especially black and Asian communities. Another said that those arrested for possession were less likely to help the police to solve more serious crimes. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth