Is UK Out of Step
on Toleration of Cannabis? Published Letter
Source:
Braintree and Witham Times [UK]
Pub Date:
Thursday 15 January 2004
Pub LTE: Is UK
Out of Step on Toleration of Cannabis?
Author Chris
Philbin
Contact:
bwtpost@nqe.com
Website:
www.thisisessex.co.uk
IS UK OUT OF
STEP ON TOLERATION OF CANNABIS
AFTER
reclassification of cannabis on the 29 January, the Police
guidelines
of presumption of non-arrest will result
in a large reduction of
arrest of
otherwise law abiding citizens.
BUT, I cannot
understand why the UK government wants to retain a law that
allows for
arresting and tossing cannabis user in jail be it social or
medicinal use.
The Netherlands
has long tolerated personal possession and allowed cannabis
coffee shops.
cannabis is now available as a prescription drug at
pharmacies.
Spain no longer
arrests recreational drug users; Portugal has decriminalised
cannabis use. So
has Luxembourg.
Belgium allows
the medical use of marijuana and is considering permitting
citizens to grow
small amounts of cannabis.
Local
authorities in France and Germany are considering whether or not to
arrest cannabis
users. The Swiss senate has approved legislation legalizing
personal use of
cannabis.
The Australian
and New Zealand governments are considering
approving the
medical use of cannabis.
Canada provides
cannabis through its health-care program and has proposed
decriminalizing
cannabis cultivation and consumption. Police in Toronto
merely
confiscate cannabis from users.
And in the U.S.,
an Alaskan appellate court has affirmed the constitutional
right of
citizens to grow and consume cannabis at home.
In the UK After
reclassification on Jan 29
"Cannabis possession will still
be an illegal
drug". And that means preventing the sick and dying from
cultivating and
using the only medicine that works for many of them.
Why should
someone be classed as a criminal simply for growing and consuming
a plant
providing they are doing no harm and posing no threat to anyone.
Surely this
can't be right?
Chris Philbin
Candidate for
Chelmsford West