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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Scotland Yard Eases Marijuana Stand
ccguide Saturday 16 Jun 2001 Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2001 Associated Press Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/27 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) SCOTLAND YARD EASES MARIJUANA STAND LONDON (AP) - Scotland Yard plans to ease its enforcement of laws against possessing marijuana so officers can focus on arresting crack cocaine dealers and violent criminals, police said Friday. As part of a pilot program in one high-crime district, London police will release people found with a small amount of marijuana with just a warning instead of bringing them to a police station for formal arrest, Scotland Yard said. "We are not turning a blind eye to crime, but we have to prioritize," said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens. "Possession and use of cannabis is not a priority." The experimental program, whose start date has not yet been set, will allow officers to give on-the-spot warnings to those found with marijuana and then seize the drugs. Scotland Yard said officers will use their discretion to decide when the amount is large enough to merit arrest. Stevens has said that processing an arrest for even the smallest amount of marijuana can take an officer off the streets for as long as six hours. Officials believe department resources could be better used against drug dealers and violent criminals. If the program is successful in Lambeth, a high-crime district in south London, it could be expanded to the rest of the city, Scotland Yard said. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager
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