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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Police Set New Cannabis Guidelines
ccguide Saturday 13 Sep 2003 Pubdate: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 Source: BBC News (UK Web) Copyright: 2003 BBC Contact: Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558 Cited: Association of Chief Police Officers http://www.acpo.police.uk/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom) POLICE SET NEW CANNABIS GUIDELINES New guidelines telling police officers how to deal with cannabis users following the downgrading of the drug do not include a maximum "personal use" limit. The guidelines, issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers, are a response to the reclassification of cannabis by the Home Secretary David Blunkett. But the 600-word guidance does not specify a limit to the amount of cannabis users can claim is for their own consumption. A separate document stated that setting a limit for personal use would lead to dealers carrying amount just under the limit. It also mentions the difficulties for officers estimating weights or quantities on the street. The guidance sets out when officers will be able to arrest people caught with the drug. Public Use Offence ACPO now says that possession of cannabis would "ordinarily not be an arrestable offence" but mentions a number of instances in which arrest should be made. Among these, it advises that people smoking cannabis in public, possessing the drug around children or being repeatedly found with the drug should be arrested. Another use leading to arrest would be when users are creating a "fear of public disorder". Mr Blunkett decided to downgrade the drug from Class B to Class C to free police time in the war against Class A drugs, including heroin and crack. The reclassification was welcomed by those campaigning for a more liberal attitude to cannabis use. But ACPO spokesman and Chief Constable of Norfolk Police Andy Hayman said officers will still have the power of arrest for possession. "The new guidance recommends that there should be a presumption against arrest. "In practice, this means that in the majority of cases officers will issue a warning and confiscate the drug. "That said, despite reclassification, it remains illegal to possess cannabis." Officers dealing with cannabis possession will still be required to record the incident as a crime. And procedure for under-18s found in possession of cannabis will remain unchanged. Mr Blunkett is expected to reclassify cannabis early next year after new powers under the Criminal Justice Bill come into force. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake
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