|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Easing of cannabis law 'to aid war on hard drugs'
Jimmy Burns The Financial Times
Monday 22 Oct 2001 Possession of cannabis should no longer be an arrestable offence, the government said on Tuesday in a significant shake-up of drugs policy. David Blunkett, home secretary, said the government intended the drug to remain illegal, but re-classified from a class 'B' drug to a class 'C' drug, putting it in line with anti-depressants and steroids. It means that cannabis smokers are unlikely to face prosecution if they are caught with small amounts of the drug. Police are more likely to issue a warning or a caution to people caught with cannabis, rather than arresting them. Mr Blunkett's plans will be put before the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, a panel of experts. It will be put for a vote in the House of Commons next year. The move, already piloted in Lambeth, south London, is designed to free police time to focus on so-called hard drugs - category 'A' drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Cannabis' coffee shops' will remain illegal, but the way will be paved for the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. The surprise announcement was made by Mr Blunkett at a parliamentary committee that had called him to give evidence on the latest anti-terrorist measures. "We believe it is right to look at the re-categorisation of cannabis," the home secretary said. Mr Blunkett added that the south London pilot scheme had been proving "successful" in prioritising resources, and there was now a recognition that the law was lagging behind public attitudes. The change will bring Britain closer in line with some other European countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal where drugs policy is aimed at separating the market for less harmful drugs - herbal cannabis and cannabis resin - from the market for drugs carrying an unacceptable risk such as heroin and cocaine. The Dutch reject the idea that cannabis pharmacologically induces people to switch from soft to hard drugs. They accept, however, that the more that users are part of a subculture where drugs of both 'classes' are obtainable, the greater the risk of progression from soft to hard drugs. Sufferers from multiple sclerosis on Tuesday welcomed Mr Blunkett's proposals. The drug has long been rumoured to alleviate pain among MS sufferers and is currently the subject of a nationwide trial. Mike Goodman, director of Release, the national drug and alcohol advice charity, said British society had finally grown up. "This is a massive change from where we were five or 10 years ago in that we are very much more rational." Former Tory cabinet minister Peter Lilley said the proposals did not go far enough.
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!