Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:


After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

UK: MP Backs Dope Change

Evening Post, Bristol

Wednesday 24 Jul 2002

---

Mp Doug Naysmith has praised the decision to relax the laws on cannabis
use which means dope smokers will no longer be arrested.

The Labour MP for Bristol North West said the Government was right to
concentrate police resources on stamping down on heroin and cocaine
dealers.

And he said claims that downgrading cannabis from a Class B drug to a
Class C would spark a new crime wave were not backed up by experts.

Dr Naysmith has signed an early day motion at the House of Commons
congratulating Home Secretary David Blunkett on taking the step.

Under the change, to be introduced in Bristol by next July, cannabis
will still be confiscated and the user given a warning.

And dealers in cannabis will still be jailed for up to 14 years, the
same maximum punishment as for those selling Class B drugs.

But offenders will only be arrested if there are "aggravating factors" -
such as someone blowing smoke into a police officer's face or carrying
the drug near a school.

Former "drugs tsar" Keith Hellawell quit as a Government advisor over
the reclassification, claiming it would increase both cannabis use and
crime.

But Dr Naysmith said: "Opinion is changing and most police authorities
recognise that resources are better spent on catching dealers,
particularly in Class A drugs.

"Young people who end up using Class A drugs go to places where there is
lots of alcohol and tobacco around.

"So the idea that it is using cannabis that leads on to those really
serious drugs, like heroin and cocaine, is not believed by most
experts."

Dr Naysmith said the message that all drugs were "equally dangerous"
lacked credibility and risked greater use of the more dangerous drugs.

A rival motion, signed by other MPs, has condemned the reclassification
of cannabis because the drug is "the first step on the road to hard drug
addiction".

 

 

 

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!