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Dorchester cannabis campaigner blasts Government's 'ignorance' Martin Lea Dorset Echo Tuesday 27 Jan 2009 Disabled Jim ‘Pinky’ Starr, of Dorchester, who openly smokes the drug for medicinal reasons and has been cautioned by the police for his behaviour, spoke on the eve of laws being introduced to upgrade the drug from Class C to B. Mr Starr said the move will cost the taxpayer more money, use up more police time and criminalise harmless sections of the population. He reckons people should be able to grow their own or buy it from regulated outlets to help stop young people getting their hands on it. Mr Starr, 34, has suffered chronic back problems for years, exacerbated when he was in a road accident in 2003. He is prescribed a cocktail of drugs for his condition but says cannabis is the only substance which helps the pain and allows him to live his life. Mr Starr will be among scores of people taking part in a demonstration in London tomorrow – the day the law comes into force. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith decided to move the drug up a grade because of fears over the impact of stronger strains of ‘skunk’ on the mental health of young people. Under the new regime, police will issue a warning to anyone caught with cannabis for a first offence and fine second-time offenders £80. Anyone caught a third time would be arrested and face a fine and up to five years in prison. The new law was supposed to come into force yesterday but will not be official until Wednesday because of delays. Mr Starr said: “It is going to drive people who need help underground. “The police, who wanted downgrading to focus more on Class A and B drugs, will now find themselves once again arresting cannabis users.” He claims in reclassifying cannabis, the Home Secretary ignored the Government’s own experts including the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. He added: “Jacqui Smith said medicinal users who write to her claiming they spend hundreds of pounds a month alleviating their symptoms should get more help from the NHS or be prepared to face five years in prison. “This showed clear ignorance and prejudice. She refuses to face scientific fact and legislate according to evidence, and laughs in the face of sick people.” Mr Starr said he would rather grow cannabis or buy it from a Government regulated shop than have to approach ‘gang members’ on the streets. He added: “If people want it they will find it. You can’t stop it but you can control it. It’s far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.” A Dorset Police spokesman said: “It is intended that the reclassification to Class B will send a clear message to young people that cannabis is a dangerous drug and that there is an increased chance of police taking firm action with regards to offences of possession. “Where cannabis use is repeated, or where there are aggravating circumstances locally, officers will take a harder line on enforcement and an arrest will be more likely. Every encounter at street level provides local intelligence and this helps us to identify and act against criminals who seek to profit from cannabis supply and distribution.” http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/
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