Posted by Derek on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:18:58

Cannabis is illegal. Because it's illegal David is a criminal who evaded capture, so he can't be open about it, can he? He's not alone, there's an awful lot of people in the same position. Being open and honest about drug use is a dangerous thing if you want a career of any kind.

Lets be clear about this, David isn't just anyone, he seeks to run this country, to be the head of a government which would make and enforce the laws. In particular he supports harsher laws against cannabis - how can he do this if he himself was unable or unwilling to obey the law?

David says politicians are "entitled to a private past"; really? Are they? We're not! If I had a cannabis conviction I might not be allowed to do my job thanks to the CRB checks I had to go through.

Ordinary people have their lives ruined by convictions for cannabis possession and use - even since reclassification it still happens. Frankly, what's good enough for him is good enough for the rest of us I would have thought.

Thing is, if reports are to be believed, getting told off by headmaster at Eton didn't stop David from using cannabis later in life, as he said, he had a "normal" career at university, I think we all understand what that means.

If David supported real law reform to make cannabis a genuinely controlled drug by legalising and regulating it I might have some sympathy for his position, but he doesn't. David supports repressive laws for the rest of us, as long as they don't apply to him of course.

He supports a law which he knows doesn't work and which he himself treated with contempt. I don't think that's a viable position for a would be leader to have.

Derek

Posted by ToryxGirl on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:23:45

Derek,

I can't say I disagree with any of your points you have made, as they have been made very well, indeed such a conviction to a 'regular' person would be a severe disadvantage to a career path.

I think the country has a right to know the truth, sure we can all guess what a 'normal' university life may mean, to be fair I have a pretty 'normal' university life but that doesn't mean I do drugs because I don't.

I think its time he stood up and was honest to the people who he wants to honestly vote for him in good faith.

Posted by canvas on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:23:53

Hiya ToryXgirl,

DC says that he would like to keep his private life private (before he was a politician). You will just have to respect his privacy and his wishes - as he would respect yours. DC hasn't denied anything - so - put 2 + 2 together. Read between the lines. Who really cares?! We should stop with 'the witch hunt' - it's a nonsense. The media are disgraceful.

Personally, I hope the Tory Old Guard choke on their cornflakes this morning! teehee teehee :) :)

David Cameron has proved he is human. He has had normal real life experiences. He will now be more popular than ever.

Posted by ToryxGirl on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:29:35

Canvas,

haha I like the Tory Old Guard =P but I did choke on my tea by laughing at this being in the media again!
It's not so much DC I care about, I care that he is the leader of The Conservative Party, and this is obviously something that people want to know, if he really isn't careful he will end up loosing a lot because of it. As Derek stated we aren't allowed private lives with respect to this so why should someone who wants to be PM?

Sometimes I think he wants us to do 2 + 2 and get 5, reading between the lines doesn't always give the right answer anyway.

Question won't go away till he puts it at rest, a 'no comment' won't suffice.

Posted by SarahG on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:37:52

Pls have a look at my blog today- "Eton Reefers" @ http://blog.myspace.com/sarahgraham69 The debate around cannabis is very important- the drug today is not the same one that David smoked- skunk is much stronger and th effects of heavy use can be very damaging to young people's mental health. I work with clients with cannabis induced psychosis- it's very distressing for the person and their families. Treatment can be successful. But the popular message that "it's just a bit of harmless smoke" makes it diffcult for a young person to come forward and admit they have a problem. Peer pressure is enormous in some groups. The reclassification hasn't helped. Sarah

Posted by euro2hell on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:38:08

I am glad you revoke memories of other Tory leaders who did not have reason or cause to duck the question and who so painstakingly need to search for the right, evasive response to a very clear-cut and short question.

It reflects on the wrong decision the party took in 2004 to groom an unseasoned freshman to the top position.

It is immaterial that I believe that smoking cannabis as a 15-year old must not be an issue for Mr Cameron today. It is the way how he handles the issue today that troubles me. Paired with his other alternative lifestyle obsessed policies he risks to split the party like no leader before him.

Your posting has utmost validity!

Posted by euro2hell on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:52:50

Re: respondent Derek

I resent the fact that Mr Cameron is being derided as a criminal here. Derek's definition of criminal is thouroughly wrong to begin with, and Mr Cameron does not bear the faintest resemblance, let alone the necessary prerequisites, to be called a criminal.

I disagree on a string of policies represented by Mr Cameron, but he is by no means a criminal!

Posted by zimjen on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:53:42

Nearly all the comments submitted on the BBC website say the issue of Cameron smoking cannabis is a "non-issue".
People are, quite rightly, more concerned with what's going on in Iran, Iraq, Russia and North Korea.

If he admits to smoking cannabis, he will be slated on every talk show, in every newspaper and in Commons. The Labour Party will seize upon it and the admission will become bigger than all the issues the Conservative Party is trying to focus on.
At the moment Conservatives are polling stronger than Labour, David Cameron doesn't want to waste that success on a non-event which, whether people like it or not, is incredibly common.
I mean if I had to deal with the pressures of going to Eton, I'd have probably smoked a joint or two as well!

Don't give in David, read the forums, not just this one, and you'll see what people really think. Don't let the Tory Old Guard persuade you that this is damaging your career - they may be important but remember who will be voting for you in the end.
Cannabis or none, I certainly will be.

Posted by BigAndy on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:55:01

Check out http://BBC.co.uk have your say email page.

It,s a "non story" whipped up by Fleet St and Sky News and News 24. Everyone agrees

Get out there and tell them to shut up, report real news instead of letting all of these idiots pontificate about what you did at Eton 25 years ago...

Posted by Votedave on Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:02:11

For goodness' sake, he was only 15, Doesn't everyone get up to mischief when they're children?

Posted by ToryxGirl on Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:06:01

In a country where we are trying to fight the problems called by drug abuse I think this matter is very important, we teach our kids at school about how drugs are wrong and not acceptable, so tell me what example would it set if say theoretically DC got voted in as PM and then it all came out that he did do the drugs?
Sooner he puts it to rest either way, sooner it can be dealt with or forgotten.

Posted by canvas on Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:12:48

And who made you the "the provider of the truth"? LoL

It's such a NON-ISSUE. Move on. Not a big deal. :)

Posted by ToryxGirl on Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:18:05

Canvas,

I used to take part in Peer-Education whilst at 6th form, I taught the younger kids the dangers of drugs and such, and trust me it really doesn't help your job when you have to try and account for people in the media acting as DC is at this moment in time.

Posted by coolcatmillie on Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:20:39

Canvas its not really about the “private past” in my eyes.
Yes he should be entitled to a private past, but right now he has to answer to his private past, and make it clear (if he believes) that its not acceptable to smoke cannabis, as young as 15.
That’s all he needs to do, say, “yes I was stupid, young naïve, didn’t realise then it may have lead to seriuos problems”

Posted by Derek on Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:20:51

>>
Posted by euro2hell on Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:52:50
Re: respondent Derek

I resent the fact that Mr Cameron is being derided as a criminal here. Derek's definition of criminal is thouroughly wrong to begin with, and Mr Cameron does not bear the faintest resemblance, let alone the necessary prerequisites, to be called a criminal.

I disagree on a string of policies represented by Mr Cameron, but he is by no means a criminal!
>>

Well, sorry euro2hell, but he is a criminal - both in the eyes of the law and by his stated support for the law. Taking illegal drugs is a criminal activity, if you do it you are a criminal.

Now, I would agree that simply smoking a spliff shouldn't make you a criminal, but as things stand it does. So one rule for us, the same rule for Dave I'm afraid, that's the way it has to be. Clearly, from what he's said about the drug laws, and from the policies his shadow Home Secretary is spouting he thinks the rest of us should face a more repressive regime. If we should, then so should he.

Perhaps the most important aspect of all this though is it happened when he was 15. We're told cannabis use at this age is especially risky for mental health reasons. So David knows from his first hand experience that prohibition does nothing to protect children from the drugs trade.

Derek