CANNABIS RECLASSIFICATION AND THE EVENING STANDARD

Early day motion 1679, tabled 22 July 2002 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House congratulates the Evening Standard for its editorial comment of 6th August 2001 that 'Sooner or later Tony Blair will have to reconsider his absolute refusal to consider changes to the drugs laws'; welcomes comments by their writers on 25th October 2001 in support of 'a Home Secretary with the courage to make Whitehall's first sane announcement on cannabis in a generation, with the conclusion that the streets of London will be easier to police as a result', and on 24th October 2001 'recognises that the relaxation of cannabis laws were widely supported by those interviewed in Brixton'; and regrets the paper's recent descent into hysterical unbalanced politically motivated reporting on the Home Secretary's courageous reform.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.