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\"The deadly problem is hard drugs. The first aim must therefore be to prevent cannabis users being persuaded to try hard drugs. Making cannabis illegal has not prevented nearly half of young people trying it but it does mean that they can only get it from the criminal gangs who often also push hard drugs. The only way to stop driving cannabis users into the arms of hard drug pushers is to provide a limited number of strictly regulated outlets that are free of other drugs including alcohol\"
-Peter Lilley MP
\"I hope that the Government will take a constructive look at some of the assumptions along which drug policy is currently being developed: with drugs co-ordination now back within the Home Office, there is an understandable risk that the crime reduction agenda may dominate policy-makers\' thinking at the expense of health and education considerations.
I believe that it is right to concentrate on the drugs which cause the greatest harm - but that the Government will have to revise many of their ambitious targets such as reducing heroin and cocaine use by 25% by 2003. Politicians must be mature enough to recognise that talking of \"drugs\" as though it were a single substance is not helpful and that not all drugs pose the same risks to individuals and the wider community. I am modestly optimistic about the outcomes of further debate on legislative changes, especially around cannabis.
Meanwhile, it remains unacceptable that those with acute drug problems often have to wait for help. We need to train more new staff and raise the quality of drug treatment. The new National Treatment Agency needs to ensure concrete change on the ground in the shortest possible time. Finally, I look forward to the day when the stigma and fear is taken out of drug use so those with problems, their families and friends no longer feel reluctant to come forward for help. The Government of the day can be so influential in making this happen.\"
-Roger Howard, Chief Executive, Drugscope
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