|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Ministers reject drugs law overhaul
BBC News Online Wednesday 07 Feb 2001 The government has rejected the key findings of a landmark report into drugs policy which recommended the easing of penalties for possession of soft drugs and a reclassification of ecstasy and LSD. The Police Foundation report, which followed two years of research into drugs policy, was published last year to acclaim from academics and drugs counsellors. The report argued that penalties for the possession of cannabis did more harm than the drug itself and called for a wide reclassification of drugs and drug offences. The only major proposal not dismissed by ministers was a suggestion people could defend themselves against charges of supplying drugs if they proved it was only for use by a small circle of friends. The government's rejection comes just days after a poll for BBC News Online suggested 49% of respondents believed cannabis use should be decriminalised. The rejection of 24 of the proposals will dismay groups campaigning for a distinction between penalties for hard and soft drugs, the Home Office has rejected 24 of the committees main proposals. The chairwoman of the independent inquiry, Viscountess Runciman, said the government's attitude was "mistaken and complacent". The effect of that attitude would burden the UK with laws that did not match public opinion, she said. But ministers have consistently signalled that no change in drugs law was likely. Speaking for the Home Office, minister Charles Clarke said that a change in the law on cannabis was not desirable as it "would increase consumption" and as the use of the drug carries the risk of cancer and can affect mental health. And in the run-up to the election expected in May, the Conservatives are also maintaining their own hardline stance on drugs, despite last year's admission from eight members of the shadow cabinet that they had used cannabis in the past. Labour backbencher David Winnick, a member of the home affairs select committee told the BBC he hoped that a more sensible debate on drugs would emerge after the pressures of an upcoming election campaign had passed. In calling for a serious look at reform he added: "Many law-abiding people who wouldn't dream of flouting the law nevertheless do take cannabis, [they] don't believe they are criminals and I believe we simply have to recognise a fact of life." Lady Runciman added: "Our recommendations would create a more effective law which enabled resources and enforcement efforts to be targeted on the most dangerous drugs such as heroin and cocaine, and the most dangerous activities involving them." The inquiry team, which included two serving chief constables, called for possession of cannabis to be made a non-imprisonable offence. The drug would also have been reclassified from class B to class C - the same as anabolic steroids - and people found cultivating a small number of cannabis plants would also not face prison, under the recommendations. Other suggestions such as a reduction in jail sentences for possession of heroin and cocaine from a maximum of seven years down to 12 months were also rejected. And calls to reclassify ecstasy and LSD as class B drugs, were dismissed. Lady Runciman said: "All our most far-reaching recommendations have been rejected. "It leaves us with a law that is out of touch with reality, misleading in its rank of relative harm, disproportionate in its sanctions, dependent on police discretion to be workable and out of step with the public attitudes. "It also leaves us with a law that in relation to cannabis produces more harm than it prevents." Although she did venture the idea that her report would stand the test of time: "I believe this is a good report ... it has staying power and its time will come." Speaking for the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes also said the government's response was "disappointing". He said his own party was not "ruling anything out" and added: "It may be that they [Labour] are brave, but are not willing to be seen as such before a general election." Responding to the news a spokesman for the national drugs and legal advice service Release said: "Public opinion is way ahead of the government and will ultimately be the driving force."
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!