the British Police have put the Labor Government in a bind with open
discussions of legalizing pot. The full text of the editorial from the
Conservative paper, The Express is available at:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n437.a02.html

MINISTERS MUST NOW ALLOW A FULL DEBATE OVER OUR ATTITUDE TO DRUGS

It is impossible to underestimate the importance of yesterday's remarks
in New York by Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan
Police. As we report on our front page today, Sir John declared that he
would raise no objections if steps were taken to legalise the possession
of cannabis. The mere fact that this country's most senior policeman
would even consider making such comments shows how swiftly the public
debate on drug use is moving.

Sir John's remarks come at the end of a week when Viscountess Runciman's
report for the Police Foundation recommended a sharp reduction in the
penalties for possession of some drugs. Not long ago, such a call would
have been greeted with public abhorrence. This week it merely served to
prompt a sharp public debate on the legalisation of soft drugs.

The battle against soft drugs takes up an immense amount of police time
on a war that can never be won.