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UK: For the sake of a nation, stop the reclassification of cannabis

Canna Zine

Thursday 14 Aug 2008

In light of the comments made by former Cabinet drugs advisor Julian Critchley, regarding the "hopeless" nature of the war against drugs, the forthcoming reclassification of cannabis, set to occur early in 2009, should be stopped from happening altogether, in a bid to keep cannabis use, as well as convictions for cannabis use, in the decline shown since it was initially declassified to a class C substance back in 2004.

That's the message coming from an Internet community dedicated to cannabis law reform, which is based in South Wales, UK.

A spokesman for the "Canna Zine - Daily zine for the global cannabis scene " said the former Cabinet advisor involved, Mr Julian Critchley is just saying what hundreds of politicians, police officers, doctors and psychiatrists from around the world are thinking, but are afraid to put into words as it will essentially seal the fate of their chosen career, and that's no basis on which to run a national drugs policy.

Whats needed now is some public support for Mr Critchley's opinions.

On February 5th 2008 the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs convened a public meeting, which only added weight to what the majority of the panel of experts felt inwardly. That the reclassification of cannabis was a step backwards in the control of the British drugs trade in general, and the trade in cannabis specifically, especially stronger strains of herbal cannabis.

The ACMD report went on to say;

"You will note that, after a most careful scrutiny of the totality of the available evidence, the majority of the Council’s members consider – based on its harmfulness to individuals and society – that cannabis should remain a Class C substance.

"It is judged that the harmfulness of cannabis more closely equates with other Class C substances than with those currently classified as Class B."

"In providing this advice, however, the Council wishes to emphasise that the use of cannabis is a significant public health issue. Cannabis can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society, (but statistically less than either alcohol or tobacco according to the ACMD's own figures)."

"The Council therefore advises that strategies designed to minimise its use and adverse effects must be predominantly public health ones. "

"Criminal justice measures – irrespective of classification – will have only a limited effect on usage."

"We therefore urge you to invite the UK’s Chief Medical Officers to develop, on behalf of the government, a public health strategy that will meet our shared goals. "

"Anything less will prejudice the health of future generations."


On this basis, Sir Michael Rawlins, chair of the ACMD council and a practising Pharmacologist, gave his recommendations to the Home Office.

A few months later in May 2008, and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made the announcement the United Kingdom had been waiting for. That cannabis was set to be reclassified and regardless of the advice given by the ACMD.

Taking the decision to reclassify cannabis lightly is likely the straw that breaks the camel's back so far as a Labour government is concerned, as all except a few "experts" who have been asked for advice on this issue, have agreed the government have once again, got it wrong.

But that's not likely to phase the Cabinet as they have something of a history of not listening to expert advisors.

http://pr.cannazine.co.uk/content/view/519/1/

 

 

 

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