Pubdate: Sun, 13 Apr 2003
Source: Sunday Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/letters/letters.html
Website: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/438
Author: Grahame Armstrong
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

BRITISH TRIAL 'A FAILURE'

The State Government's plan to decriminalise minor cannabis use follows a 
similar experiment in Britain that has since been branded a failure.

In Britain, the Blair Government allowed cannabis users in a working-class 
area of London's Lambeth to escape the full sanction of the law.

After a year, the experiment was widely condemned as having a shocking 
effect on vulnerable people, particulary children.

Opposition Leader Colin Barnet this week quoted from an article in London's 
Evening Standard to underscore his opposition to the Government's legislation.

"Working-class children are being turned into stoned, imbecilic criminals," 
Julie Fawcett, a youth worker, was quoted as saying.

A Lambeth GP, Dr Clare Gerarda, said: "They (children) have got the message 
that suddenly it's all right; that the police won't do anything to them."

London Deputy Assistant Commisioner Mike Fuller said: "One of the problems 
of children taking cannabis is that it brings them into contact with 
dealers."  Mr Barnett said the Blair Government was using trendy, 
middle-class policies on working-class children and treating them as guinea 
pigs.  He said the State Government was trying to do the same.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager