Belgium to soften cannabis policy

Ms Alvoet: The criminal judge won't interfere anymore

Belgium has moved towards decriminalising the possession of cannabis for personal use.

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said the production, supply, sale and ownership of larger quantities of the drug would still be actively prosecuted, as would "problematic" consumption and unsociable behaviour.

We'll no longer punish people who smoke a joint from time to time

Health Minister Magda Alvoet

The government stressed that Belgium was not following the Dutch model, where cannabis is sold in licensed coffee shops.

Health Minister Magda Alvoet said the new legislation - which still has to go before parliament - would bring Belgium in line with other European countries which are easing their restrictions on the personal use of the drug.

Problem cases

"We'll no longer punish people who smoke a joint from time to time," said Ms Alvoet.

"The criminal judge won't interfere anymore in lives of people use cannabis on a personal basis and who do not create harm or become dependent," she added.

Cannabis will not be sold in Dutch-style coffee shops

But Prime Minister Verhofstadt said the new proposals did not mean cannabis was being formally decriminalised.

He said the there was currently a situation of inequality in Belgium, with official attitudes towards cannabis varying from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.

Mr Verhofstadt said the courts should take care of the people who use cannabis and pose problems.

"Above all what we want to do is to provide therapeutic solutions for such people rather than penalising them," he said.

Grey areas

But correspondents say there are substantial grey areas that will be left up to the judiciary to decide.

The legislation - to be formalised in a royal decree - does not mention quantities that can be considered for personal use.

The personal cultivation of cannabis plants is not mentioned in the new regulations, and a spokesman for the health ministry, Paul Geerts, said it would be tolerated.

Mr Geerts said the new law was expected to be in force within a few months.