|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: 50-Mile Round Trip For A 'Safe' Reefer
ccguide Tuesday 03 Jul 2001 Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jul 2001 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 2001 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: Website: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454 Author: LAURA PEEK 50-MILE ROUND TRIP FOR A 'SAFE' REEFER A PARAPLEGIC cannabis smoker celebrated a controversial decision by Lambeth police not to arrest drug users carrying small amounts of marijuana by lighting a joint on the steps of Brixton police station yesterday. Chris Baldwin, 51, who smokes cannabis to ease spasms in his legs, had travelled from his home in Worthing for the first day of the six-month pilot scheme. Officers following the new guidelines confiscated Mr Baldwin's drugs and issued a brief warning. The project has divided community leaders. Some say it will free police to purge the area of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Others say that the police are washing their hands of young people living on some of Britain's toughest estates, many of whom are driven into crime by drug habits. "It is a cop-out," said Ros Griffiths, who a fortnight ago opened an employment cafe on Railton Road. "I work on the frontline with drug takers and also at Brixton prison with dealers. This policy sends a dangerous mixed message. Drugs are either illegal or they are not. And until Tony Blair's Government legalises ganja, it is illegal. It is a double standard." But the head of the council-owned Brixton Pondok Steps community centre welcomed the policy. Eston Barton, 40, said: "I am a smoker and drinker of cannabis so I'm in favour. Smokers will be more relaxed because of the policy. It's the people on heroin and cocaine the police should focus on." Manolya Hasan, 40, a mother whose children use the centre, agreed. "It's the harder drugs that are bringing people down. The shootings are all to do with hard drugs." A drug dealer on the estate who would not be named said the policy made no difference to him. "I'm still breaking the law. It will not help dealers. This law is not for me, it's for the people who use cannabis." The Lambeth scheme could be adopted all over the country if it is deemed a success. It is the creation of Commander Brian Paddick who says that processing a single cannabis smoker, who usually ends up with a fine of less than pounds50, takes two officers off the beat for several hours. The Government has denied that the scheme, which coincides with the start this week of tougher sentencing for violent criminals, is the first step towards legalisation of cannabis. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!