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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Wire: Brits Won't Reduce Drug Penalties
ccguide Friday 31 Mar 2000 Pubdate: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 Source: Associated Press Copyright: 2000 Associated Press BRITS WON'T REDUCE DRUG PENALTIES LONDON (AP) -- The British governmental department that oversees law enforcement said Tuesday it would not follow an independent think-tank's recommendation to reduce criminal penalties for possession of certain illegal drugs. The Home Office said it opposed the Police Foundation's recommendation to abolish prison sentences for possession of any drugs other than so-called class A substances like heroin and cocaine. ``We see no justification for it. It would not improve the situation, it would make it worse,'' government drug czar Keith Hellawell said at a conference of community anti-drug action groups in Brighton in southern England. Under the report, heroin and cocaine would remain in class A, but ecstasy and LSD would be downgraded to class B. Marijuana would be transferred from class B to class C, the lowest category. The report said prison sentences should be abolished for possession of class B and C drugs, and the maximum prison sentences for possession of class A drugs reduced and imposed only when community service and treatment have failed or been rejected. ``We have concluded that the most dangerous message of all is the message that all drugs are equally dangerous,'' said Lady Runciman, who chaired the review. ``When young people know that the advice they are being given is either exaggerated or untrue in relation to less harmful drugs, there is a real risk they will discount everything else they are told about the most hazardous drugs,'' Runciman said. - --- MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst
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