UK: Home Office Invites Cannabis Users to Debate Reclassification

Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:

After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

Ian Malley

CannaZine

Wednesday 16 Jan 2008

---
It was in July 2007 that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith asked the Advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to review the classification of
cannabis .

Whilst this information is widely known throughout the UK cannabis
community, what's not quite so common knowledge is the fact that you,
and the rest of the general public, can take part too.

Ever since cannabis was reclassified by then Home Secretary David
Blunkett back in 2004, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith cordially invites you
to come to London and say your piece a game of political ping pong has
ensued between cannabis users, the police and politicians, who all have
an opinion on this particularly hot political potato.

Speaking to ACPO, the Association Of Chief Police Officers, Chief
Constable of Humberside Tim Hollis says, “In light of what we know about
confusion for young people about how serious the drug is — some
thinking it is legal — and increasing medical evidence about the
disproportionate harm to young people of strong cannabis there are
persuasive arguments in our view to support the re-classification debate."

Which is quite a turn around for ACPO, who whole-heartedly supported
David Blunkett when the reclassification from class B to class C was
first aired.

In the meantime Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has out and out asked
for a total legalisation of all illicit drugs so its a mixed up and
convoluted message we're having to deal with down on the street.

Mr Blunkett said the reasons behind the decision were, "So police could
concentrate on dealing with class A drugs, and its logistical chain."

But that's gone out the window, as home office figures showing the
amounts of people who now use class A drugs, bear witness.

Speaking recently, Mr Blunkett says of the period since cannabis was
reclassified, "There has been a marked fall in cannabis use, which is
the result of people being better informed."

Whether you agree or disagree with Mr Blunkett's reasons for the
reduction in cannabis use or not is not the issue here. For a prominent
ex-Cabinet minister to even allude to a drop in user figures must be
seen as a result for the pro-cannabis community.

But where does the UK cannabis community go from here?

London would be a great start!

On the 5th of February the ACMD invites members of the public, including
the cannabis community, to actually take part in the review meeting, and
if cannabis and its legislation matters to you, now is the time to say
your piece.

The day will comprise presentations from experts and stakeholders in
relation to cannabis use, followed by an open forum for members of the
public, upon which time YOU have the opportunity to have your say in
what's proving to be one of the more challenging issues the Home Office
has dealt with in recent times.

A complete agenda will be made available in due course, and we will
publish the agenda via the Canna Zine website as and when it becomes
available.

In the meantime if you have an opinion regarding the legality of
cannabis in the UK, this is your opportunity to make it heard.

As and when Home Secretary Jacqui Smith makes her decision later in
year, it will be too late to do anything about it if it goes against
what you believe in, so now is your chance to get your point heard.
Please take it.

Attendance is FREE but by registration only as places are limited.
Places will be issued on a 'first come, first served' basis.

So take a deep breath and click the link to the Home Office.

Believe me, there are people in power who are COUNTING on the fact
stoner paranoia will kick in and people will be afraid to take part, in
the name of self-preservation.

SUCK IT UP Buddy! Nows the opportunity every member of every forum on
the Internet has waited for, so please, use it wisely and make your
voice heard.

We'll be there, covering it for the Canna Zine and I hope to see you
there too!

By Ian Malley

To attend, please complete the registration form and email to
ACMD@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Contact Address
ACMD Secretariat
3rd Floor (SW Quarter)
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

Telephone: 020 7035 0454

Email: ACMD@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

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!