London - The new leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats, Mr Charles Kennedy, has backed a call from party activists for an independent government investigation into the laws on cannabis. Mr Kennedy yesterday said he supported the creation of a royal commission to review the whole treatment of drugs in Britain, including the legalisation of cannabis.
Mr Kennedy's remarks are in contrast to the approach of his predecessor, Mr Paddy Ashdown, who was keen to play down calls for the decriminalisation of cannabis.