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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Government's Cannabis Plans 'Deeply Irresponsible' Jamie Lyons, Political Correspondent PA News Tuesday 28 Oct 2003 Government plans to reclassify cannabis risk drawing more youngsters into hard drugs, the Conservatives warned today. Speaking ahead of a Commons debate on the issue, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said the plans were 'deeply irresponsible and deeply muddled'. It would mean users being forced to buy cannabis from dealers with a vested interest in moving them on to hard drugs, he said. Mr Letwin acknowledged there was a case to be made for legalising cannabis or for getting people off the drug, but there was no case for making them semi-legal, with the Government's approach 'the worst of both worlds'. Under Government plans most users would receive a warning rather than being prosecuted. But dealers will still face arrest and heavy penalties. 'They are effectively saying they will turn a blind eye to people buying it,' Mr Letwin said. The Tory MP said the proposals would be popular in the short-term because most people backed the move. But the Government's job was to make effective policy not just measures that would prove popular. 'It is a deeply irresponsible policy and deeply muddled. 'It cannot have any effect other than to increase the likelihood of young people being drawn into hard drugs. It cannot possibly lessen the likelihood.'
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