Cannabis law 'confusion slammed
Source: Essex
Evening Gazette [UK]
Pub Date:
Tuesday, January 27,2004
Author: Ben
Attenborough ben.attenborough@thisisessex.co.uk
Contact:
gazette_postbag@thisisessex.co.uk
Web site:
www.thisissessex.co.uk
Cited: Legalise
Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/
Cannabis law
'confusion' slammed
A CAMPAIGNER for
the legalisation of cannabis has criticised the way the Government has
advertised changes to the drug law.
Don Barnard, a
member of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance in Braintree, says the planned
reclassification of cannabis has led to mass confusion.
He said:
"There is still much confusion on how reclassification will work, the
benefits to be gained, and the relative harms associated with cannabis use.
The changes in
the law are due to come into effect on Thursday, from then cannabis will still
be illegal but it will be downgraded from a category B to a category C drug.
It will still be
an offence to possess, use or deal the drug, but there will be a
"presumption against arrest" of cannabis users.
This would mean
people possessing small quantities of the drug will normally get an formal
warning and have the drug removed instead of facing arrest. But people found dealing could still be
arrested, especially if found dealing to vulnerable people.
However, Mr
Barnard said: "It's an illusion of change. The laws on cannabis have not
been amended.
"Reclassification
is a change in sentencing practice not a change in law," he added.
He believes the
prohibition of cannabis has made the situation worse and is arguing for access
to the drug to be regulated rather than prohibited.
"The
Legalise Cannabis Alliance strategy would help restrict access to the young,
remove the criminal contact in obtaining cannabis from a street and introduce
quality control."