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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cheshire among highest charge rates for cannabis possession Jack Heale Warrington Guardian Thursday 03 Jun 2021 Home Office data shows that of 1,151 cannabis possession offences closed by Cheshire Constabulary last year, 289 resulted in a charge or summons. At 25 per cent, that was one of the highest charge rates of the 43 police forces across the two nations. That excludes a further 107 offences that had not yet been assigned an outcome. Across England and Wales, there were 117,000 cannabis possession offences recorded in 2020 that had reached an outcome. Of those, 17 per cent ended in a charge – down from 21 per cent in 2019. The figures do not include Greater Manchester Police as it did not submit complete data. North Wales Police recorded the highest charge rate, at 34 per cent, while Surrey Police charged just 7 per cent of offences. Despite that, Campaigners say enforcement of the law surrounding cannabis use is a "postcode lottery" and have called for possession of the drug to be decriminalised altogether. Niamh Eastwood, executive director of drugs charity Release, said young people are disproportionately criminalised for having the drug, limiting their education and work opportunities. “It is right that most people caught in possession are not charged and avoid the burden of a criminal record,” she added. “That being said, the postcode lottery that exists in how this offence is treated is why we need a national approach.” A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We have no plans to decriminalise cannabis – there is clear scientific and medical evidence that it is a harmful drug which can damage people’s mental and physical health, and harms individuals and communities." https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/19341472.cheshire-among-highest-charge-rates-cannabis-possession/
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