England is following the lead of many European countries and becoming more tolerant of marijuana users, reports Rolling Stone (July 4, 2002). Home Secretary David Blunkett recently announced plans that would keep casual users of the drug out of prison, echoing recent policies in Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Spain. 'Recent research shows that cannabis is much less harmful than nicotine, so it's impossible to defend banning cannabis and allowing tobacco,' says North Wales chief constable Richard Brunstrom, one of the country's first law enforcement officials to come out for decriminalization.