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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Editorial: Mixed Messages On Cannabis
ccguide Friday 06 Sep 2002 Pubdate: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 Source: Evening Standard (London, UK) Copyright: 2002 Associated Newspapers Ltd. Contact: Website: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/914 MIXED MESSAGES ON CANNABIS Three spliffs and you are out sounds like a simple rule, easy to remember even for people who are often stoned. But there is a great deal that is unclear about the guidelines for policing cannabis now under discussion by the Association of Chief Police Officers. When cannabis is reclassified, probably next July, from a Class B to a Class C drug, on a par with anabolic steroids and prescription tranquillisers, adults found in possession of small amounts will be warned, and the drugs seized, but they will not normally be arrested. That has been billed by the Home Secretary as a timely shift, which will result in more police and court time being devoted to dealing with drug pushers rather than small time users. In principle this is sensible, as cannabis is certainly less harmful than heroin or cocaine. However, in an apparent attempt to claw back some power to manage what could be a big expansion in cannabis use, the police want to keep their ability to arrest users who refuse to hand over their stash, threaten public order, or, most controversially, who have already been warned twice for possession. The trouble then is that if use of the drug becomes much more common, plenty of occasional users may find themselves stopped three times and could end up in court. That would result in exactly the sort of time-wasting by the police that the change of policy was supposed to avoid. The policy of the normally astute and sensible Mr Blunkett of increasing punishment for dealing while downgrading the legal status of cannabis has sent a confusing message to the public. It may well increase cannabis consumption overall, to the likely detriment of the most vulnerable members of society, and particularly of those too young to assess for themselves the risks of using even minor drugs. No-one can predict precisely what the effects of the new policy will be, and APCO is at least suggesting a method of involving parents when under-18s are found in possession. But the day may come when Mr Blunkett wishes he had left well alone. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh
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