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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Blunkett Makes A Fudge Of Cannabis Issue
Don Barnard Press Release
Tuesday 09 Jul 2002 The Home Secretary, David Blunkett's, announcement that he intends to reclassify cannabis as a calls C drug whilst increasing sentences for supply of Class C drugs from 5 to 10 years, in a fudge. Alun Buffry, National Coordinator for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance said: "This move may appease some police and a few cannabis smokers but it will do nothing to improve the situation or help anyone. "Although the reclassification may be seen as a progression in attitudes, the results may be far from satisfactory. Fewer people will be arrested and it is more than likely that they will smoke cannabis more openly - in the streets and parks since there will be nowhere legally where they can go. This may attract more street dealers who offer low quality cannabis concoctions and even hard drugs. One does not have to think very hard to imagine the possible consequences. "Mr Blunkett seems not to have thought this out much at all. How on earth does he expect a ten-year prison sentence to deter dealing when a 14-year maximum sentence (as it is at the moment for class B drugs) has not? "What is he doing about protecting the health, as well as the rights, of cannabis users who themselves seldom cause anyone harm? "Whilst sending the correct message that cannabis is less dangerous than class B drugs, he is intending to classify it alongside a group of chemical antidepressants and steroids with names that most of us do not even recognise. They are all synthetic drugs. Cannabis is a plant. "It is a great shame that Mr Blunkett has not made any move to reduce harm from bad cannabis and hard drugs. The only way to do that is to bring cannabis within the law and allow quality controls and taxation of profits of suppliers, and to allow people to grow a few plants in their own homes." "As a class C drug, police will not have to arrest cannabis users. They may confiscate the cannabis (or cannabis-like concoctions) and issue a warning or caution. A summons to court may be issued at a later date. How does that help anyone?" "My personal question to Mr Blunkett is the same as I have asked previous home secretaries although I have never received a reply. 'Why should people be punished for an activity that harms nobody and threatens none?" Kind regards Don Barnard lca Press office
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