Source: The Herald (Glasgow) Pubdate:March 26, 1997 Pg. 1 BLAIR AT ODDS WITH CHURCH OVER DRUGS;KIRK'S SOFT LINE ON CANNABIS By Carlos Alba;And Robbie Dinwoodie;Scottish Political Correspondent; Copyright (c) 1997, Caledonian Newspapers Ltd. A CHURCH of Scotland report has called for a more liberal approach to cannabis smoking. The report, which followed a twoyear study into soft drug use, concluded that using cannabis was no more sinful than drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco or overeating. Its publication yesterday threw open the debate over the legalisation of soft drugs, coming on the same day as Labour leader Tony Blair announced plans for a USstyle antidrugs "supremo". Mr Blair and his Shadow Scottish Secretary George Robertson disagreed with the report's conclusions and considered them dangerous. The man tipped as the likely candidate for Mr Blair's drugs fighter, Grampian chief constable Dr Ian Oliver, gave a broad hint he would like the job if offered, and also responded sharply to the Kirk report, saying there was "no justification whatsoever" for its view. It called for the creation of a Royal Commission to highlight anomalies in the courts' treatment of soft drug offenders and a Department of Health review on the medical uses of cannabis. While advocating the decriminalisation of cannabis, the Kirk report stopped short of calling for legalisation which would mean the drug was on open sale. It claims the law unjustly targets social users and that the punishment often does not fit the crime. It suggests there should be standardised strategies to replace fines and prison sentences such as warning letters and social work counselling. The Rev Jim Cowie, who led the study, said: "We do not believe that the consumption of cannabis is unduly detrimental to people's health or to society. "Indeed the cost to society if people choose cannabis instead of alcohol and tobacco, to both legal and health services, would be greatly reduced." The report was given a mixed reaction. Roman Catholic priest Father William Slavin, who spent 10 years working with drug addicts in Barlinnie Prison, said: "If you take cannabis out of the legal equation it leaves you a clear field to deal with the really serious things." Rev Richard Holloway, the leader of the Episcopalian church in Scotland, said: "The report seems eminently sensible." Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace said his was the only party to have a long standing commitment to a Royal Commission on drugs. The Kirk study, conducted by the board of social responsibility, will be presented to the General Assembly in May. It followed a survey of 2581 13 to 17 yearolds from secondary schools across Scotland. Some 50% of the pupils questioned admitted they had experimented with drugs, including cannabis, by the age of 14 and 25% claimed to be still using. Of the total responses, 56% were in favour of decriminalisation on the grounds that the drugs they used were "harmless" or had "no ill effects". Rev Bill Wallace, convener of the board of social responsibility, said the Kirk was not encouraging people to smoke cannabis. He said: "Since there are increasingly vocal groups advocating the decriminalisation and legalisation of cannabis we recommend that a Royal Commission should be set up to look at all aspects of such a step. We are , in effect, saying look before you ever consider leaping into the unknown. The experience of legalising alcohol and tobacco would indicate that such a change would be well nigh irreversible." Rev Cowie added: "Medical use of cannabis, which the Government recently voted against, is recommended." However, the father of teenage ecstasy victim Leah Betts criticised the Kirk. Mr Paul Betts said. "I am not convinced that it is the harmless little weed everyone would have us believe." Mr Betts, visiting Scotland with his wife Jan to promote a Drugs Awareness Seminar, reacted favourably to Mr Blair's plan to appoint a national co ordinator to lead the war against drugs, and admitted he would consider putting himself forward for the post. Dr Oliver, another supporter of Mr Blair's idea, said: "It is an important post which coincides with my own views." On the Kirk report, he stated: "It is a nonstarter and does not deserve public debate. All we would be doing is legalising an addictive process." While not against a public debate, or even the possibility of a Royal Commission, he condemned any "pandering to a liberal attitude." Earlier Mr Blair told teachers and pupils at Dyce Academy that the drugs "Czar" would have have clout, and direct access to the Government.