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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Trouble with plants Dave Higgens Guardian Monday 23 Oct 2000 Queen Victoria is known to have taken cannabis to help relieve her period pains. Today, someone doing that risks arrest, imprisonment and a criminal record. Things have changed, but now the pressure is on the government to re-examine the laws forbidding the possession and use of the drug. Why is cannabis in the news? Recently, a senior member of the Conservative party, Anne Widdecombe, called for tougher penalties for people caught with cannabis. Immediately, the police condemned her ideas saying they were "unworkable". Then 10 of Widdecombe's political colleagues admitted to smoking cannabis in their youth. It was embarrassing for the Conservatives but the muddle prompted a public debate about cannabis and the law. What is cannabis? It is a plant related to nettles. People have grown cannabis for thousands of years both as a medicine and a source of a tough fibre called hemp. It originates in Central Asia and probably arrived in Europe in the Middle Ages. One of its most common forms is marijuana. What is the effect of using it? Chemicals in cannabis called cannabinoids stimulate certain brain receptors and seem to affect the body's pain relief mechanisms. What people experience depends on the drug's strength and how it is taken. The drug's effects range from making people happy and talkative to feeling insecure (paranoid). The physical impact of the drug is just as varied. Some people who suffer certain serious illnesses such as multiple sclerosis claim cannabis is helpful because it relaxes muscles. Why is cannabis illegal? Some people fear cannabis is dangerous. It increases the heart rate and so can harm people with heart conditions. The National Drugs Helpline says cannabis is not physically addictive, but can make people think they want it. Also, people who smoke the drug often mix it with tobacco, which is highly addictive and causes cancer. However, unlike most other drugs, it is impossible to overdose on cannabis. By contrast over 4,000 people die every year in the UK because of drinking alcohol. The other great worry is that cannabis is a "gateway" drug which encourages people to try more dangerous substances such as heroin and cocaine. This argument is weakened if you look at Holland, where decriminalisation of cannabis has not had this effect. What is "decriminalisation"? In Holland cannabis remains officially illegal, but people are allowed to possess it for personal use and it can be sold in specific, carefully monitored "coffee shops". This differs from complete "legalisation" which would allow cannabis to be sold anywhere. What is the law in this country? Under The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, cannabis is classed Grade B. People caught with it can face anything up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. The penalties are worse if someone is convicted of "dealing" - supplying the drug, even to a few friends. Often the police decide to caution people they arrest but this still results in an official police record. Over a million people in the UK are in this position. And having a police record makes certain kinds of jobs (teaching) and countries (America) out of bounds. Isn't this all rather tough? Some people think so. They argue it's absurd for otherwise law-abiding people to suffer such consequences, saying penalties are not applied equally across the UK and that tough laws do not seem to be stopping anyone from using the drug anyway. Who are these critics? The list includes influential people and organisations such as the British Medical Association which has declared that cannabis is "very safe"; senior policemen fed up with asking their staff to do an impossible job and wanting to concentrate on the fight against really dangerous drugs; a House of Lords committee that suggested two years ago that cannabis should be made legal for medical use; and recently the Police Foundation, which recommended those cautioned or fined for cannabis offences should not be penalised with a police record. Are they being listened to? Tony Blair is resisting the calls for a Royal Commission investigation into the issue, which could lead to a change in the law. More information: Drugs Scope: www.drugscope.org.uk For the most recent enquiry into cannabis visit: www.parliament.uk clicking on "index", then "r" for "research" followed by "House of Commons Library" and then "2000 reports". Legalise Cannabis Alliance: lca-uk.org The Independent Drugs Monitoring Unit: www.idmu.co.uk Police Foundation: police-foundation.org.uk National Drugs Helpline, the 24-hour confidential advice and information service can be contacted on 0800 776600.
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