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Lilley’s call to legalise cannabis welcomed
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Drug pressure groups welcomed a call to legalise cannabis by former Conservative Party deputy leader Peter Lilley. Mr Lilley, writing in the Daily Telegraph, urged Tory leadership contenders to urgently think about liberalising the laws on cannabis. His comments were welcomed by drugs charity Release, which said a change in cannabis laws was “long overdue.”
The Social Market Foundation thinktank published a pamphlet by Mr Lilley in which he argues that the law on cannabis use is unenforceable and indefensible in a country in which alcohol and nicotine are legal. He envisages that magistrates could issue licences for outlets selling cannabis to over-18s. Consumption would not be allowed on
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Cannabis should be down-rated from a class B to class C drug, he said, adding that more debate was needed on whether it should be decriminalised or legalised. “We need to start thinking about how we can change the law. We need to start addressing issues such as quality control, consumer protection and how we can protect children from it,” he said. “If we decide we want to go along that road, I’m sure in a couple of years we will look back and wonder what all the fuss is about.” On BBC 1’s Question Time, shadow chancellor Michael Portillo said the Conservative Party had to be prepared to engage in a debate about calls for the legalisation of cannabis.
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Mr Lilley argued, in a move likely to shock many Tory traditionalists, that one of the biggest handicaps the Conservatives faced during the General Election was the perception that their policies were negative and punitive. “On crime and asylum-seekers as well as drugs, Conservatism seemed to be about locking people up,” he wrote. “It ought to be about setting people free. Nothing could more vividly dramatise reaffirmation of our belief in freedom and personal responsibility than to move clearly in favour of liberalising the law on cannabis.”
the premises or in public places and a limit would be imposed on the amount sold. The drug would be taxed and carry a health warning. Cultivation for personal use would be permitted. Mike Goodman, director of the drugs charity Release, welcomed Mr Lilley’s comments, saying: “The debate in relation to cannabis has really come on leaps and bounds in the last few months. We’re now having a much more sophisticated discussion and it’s good that it is coming through leading politicians. The law on cannabis is long overdue for reform.”
Mr Portillo said: “I think the arguments on both sides are quite finely balanced, and I think they are complicated. But a Conservative Party that I led would certainly be happy to address those issues ... We should be the party that is open to new thinking ... yes, we would consider this question.” A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government’s policy has not changed. We have a clear and consistent view. There are no plans to legalise or decriminalise cannabis or any other controlled substances.” Despite his previous position as deputy leader of the Conservative Party, Mr Lilley was just another individual calling for cannabis reform, he added. Source: www.dailymail.co.uk