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UK: U-turn on cannabis highlights lack of logic in 'war on drugs'

Michael Fitzpatrick

Community Care

Wednesday 08 Aug 2007

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In an early posture of toughness, new Prime Minister Gordon Brown has
proposed that the downgrading of cannabis to a lower class of
dangerousness three years ago should be reviewed. This attempt to
display a hard line on drugs has succeeded only in drawing attention
once again to the absurdity of the current system of classification of
diverse illicit substances.

In 2004, Tony Blair approved the relegation of cannabis from class B to
class C. This was a liberalising gesture of a piece with New Labour's
ill-fated approval of 24-hour drinking and super-casinos. Cannabis was
shifted from its historic association with amphetamines and
barbiturates, with which it emerged from the drug culture of the 1960s
(the current classification was introduced in 1971).

Cannabis is now grouped with anabolic steroids - used by bodybuilders
and athletes - and ketamine and GHB, favoured by the rave/club scene
since the 1980s.

Many authorities have drawn attention to the lack of scientific basis of
the classification system. Although ketamine is officially ranked in the
lowest-risk category, in a rating of 20 drugs according to dangerousness
drawn up by the Academy of Medical Sciences, it ranks sixth - behind
heroin, cocaine, barbiturates, methadone and alcohol.

If the classification system seeks "to send a message to young people"
about the risks associated with drugs, this means of sending it is
ineffective. There is no evidence that cannabis consumption has
increased because of its downgrading. More importantly, including a drug
in class A has no effect in deterring its use.

Ecstasy, ranked alongside heroin and cocaine in the top class of
dangerousness, has been used by many clubbers over the past 10 years.
Magic mushrooms are also in class A, though it is doubtful whether they
ever cause more than a bellyache. Amphetamines, ranked eighth in the
risk-of-harm league table, remain in class B. Methylphenidate (Ritalin),
a 1960s street drug now prescribed to hyperactive children, is also
included in class B.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/

 

 

 

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