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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Press Release: Reclassification "A load of old B's and C's"
Don Barnard Press Release
Tuesday 04 Nov 2003 RECLASSIFICATION OF CANNABIS: A LOAD OF OLD B'S AND C'S PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LEGALISE CANNABIS ALLIANCE PO Box 198, Norwich, NR3 3WB http://www.lca-uk.org lca@lca-uk.org Tel: 01603 442215 The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) challenges the British Government to justify the continued punishment of cannabis users for simple possession and cultivation at home, that will exist after reclassification of cannabis on January 29, 2004. Alun Buffry, National Coordinator of the LCA said: "Reclassification is virtually meaningless. It is a loud of old B's and C's. "Whether cannabis is class B or class C, there remains no reason for punishing cannabis users or growers who neither harm nor threaten others. There is a basic fault in the concept of reclassification: that because cannabis does not fit into the B classification it will fit better in class C. "It is like trying to fit a square plug into a round hole: it will not fit so let's make a different size round hole! "The LCA believe that the law ought to reflect the issues of risk, human rights and good policing. "Reclassification will do nothing to decrease the risk posed to cannabis users through exposure to illegal dealers who MAY offer noxious substitutes and hard drugs. It will do nothing to protect the right to Privacy and Religion of Belief. "The refusal of this Government to allow legal cannabis outlets, whilst sending a clear message that cannabis is not as dangerous as class B drugs, will simply create more openings for illegal dealers. This will increase availability of street cannabis substitutes and increase the customer base. Because the Criminal Justice Bill proposes increase of maximum sentences for cannabis supply to 14 years - the same as class B drugs - it is possible that the knock-on effect of reclassification will be an increase in street supply of those drugs too. "The whole policy of reclassification is badly thought out and we anticipate a negative effect. "Only a policy that allows for legal supply is going to start to solve the problems associated with and originating from the prohibition of cannabis: bad quality and advice, association with hard drugs through dealers, infringement of human rights, and unnecessary and expensive use of police and court time. In addition, legalisation would enable home growing and taxation on profits of suppliers." NOTES FOR EDITOR 1. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance was registered as a political party in the UK in 1999. 2. Since 1999, the LCA has contested 16 Parliamentary elections and 18 local elections, gaining between 1% and 7% of the vote. 3. The LCA plans to contest a minimum of 120 seats at the next General Election. 4. On October 30th, MP's voted in favour of reclassification of cannabis. Reclassification may happen on January 29, 2004. 5. Class C drugs presently have maximum sentences of 2 years for possession and 5 years for supply. Although reclassification will lead to a reduction in the maximum sentence for supply, this will be reversed by the new Criminal Justice Bill. 6. Police do not presently arrest for possession of class C drugs; the CJB will introduce the power of arrest for cannabis as a class C drug. 7. PM Tony Blair and Education Secretary Charles Clarke did not vote in the reclassification debate. END
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