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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: 'Few people to be prosecuted over cannabis'
Ananova
Thursday 05 Sep 2002 A major police conference on drugs has heard very few people will be prosecuted for possessing cannabis under a new "three strikes and out" tactic. Tiggey May, a senior researcher at London's South Bank University, says only around 1% of people who received one warning for possession will ever be caught three times in one year. But despite the drop in paperwork anticipated, the new scheme will not free up any time to tackle harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine, she told the Association of Chief Police Officers. Instead, more mundane police work - such as taking statements from victims of burglaries - will be done quicker as a result of the plans. However, the proposals outlined by ACPO at their annual drugs conference in Blackpool will help "drive a wedge" between hard and soft drugs. Under the plans, which if approved could be in place by Christmas, users stopped in the street once or twice with cannabis will simply have the drug confiscated, be given a formal warning and sent on their way. But anyone caught three times in a year will face tougher penalties including a caution or arrest and charge for possession. Only where aggravating factors existed - for example if users were young people or were driving - would they be arrested without a warning. On top of those plans, Ms May also suggests the Government should consider allowing "personal cultivation" of cannabis, allowing users to grow small amounts of the drug and avoid contact with dealers. Delegates at the conference are broadly sceptical about the proposals, questioning the cost of enforcing the guidelines and the benefits to be gained.
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