Blair buys into failed US drug policy

This is interesting. The article is already scrubbed from the archives so I'm posting the full text from a piece in the UK Sun.

ELECTION 2005
Soft pot line up in smoke
We'll run rings round 'em ...
Brown and Blair during their visit to Gloucester

TONY Blair dramatically tore up Labour’s soft policy on cannabis yesterday as drugs exploded into a key General Election issue. The PM made clear he will REVERSE ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett’s decision to downgrade cannabis from a class B to a class C drug like anti-depressants and steroids. And he warned millions of parents they might suffer if they vote for the Lib Dems and their barmy drugs policy.

Mr Blair was challenged on the decision to reclassify cannabis at a meeting of worried mums in Penwortham, Lancs. The PM stressed there was an on-going review and that he will impose "zero tolerance" on drugs.

He said: "I favour a very strong line on it, particularly a strong line where there are people dealing near schools. It’s important we correct the misunderstanding otherwise it sends out mixed messages. We can’t afford to have kids think you get into this and nothing happens."

He admitted he was terrified by the thought of his kids becoming drug addicts — first trying cannabis before getting hooked on hard drugs. He said: “I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs — and of course it is — but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. "And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn't quite as harmless as people make out."

By NIC CECIL and SAMANTHA WOSTEAR

Disgraceful. No wonder the Brits call him Bush's poodle. If you closed your eyes, you could hear John Walters saying the exact same thing.

[thanks to Tim Meehan]