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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: MP attacks soft drug law reform plan
Michael McHugh The Belfast Telegraph
Friday 31 Oct 2003 RADICAL legislation allowing the possession of cannabis and other soft drugs is being rushed through parliament without considering its impact on the paramilitary drugs trade, a Northern Ireland MP has warned. Lady Sylvia Hermon was speaking after a one-and-a-half hour debate on the amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill in the House of Commons. She spoke in opposition to measures which would make possession of small amounts of cannabis for private use a non-arrestable offence and based much of her concern on the criminal cartels which run the drug trade in the province. "Cannabis remains the drug of choice, with 66% of drug users on it in the UK as a whole," she said. "In Northern Ireland cannabis dealing is used by the paramilitary organisations to fund their illegal activities and give their members a very lavish lifestyle. "I wanted the minister Caroline Flint to explain to the house what consultations she has had with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland but she hedged her bets." Lady Hermon, the wife of retired RUC Chief Constable Sir John Hermon, said she was shocked that only 90 minutes were allocated to debate the UK-wide change, being drawn up by the Home Office. "The government whips should not have reduced the time allotted for debate on this issue to an hour-and-a-half. "This is about legalising cannabis use in the UK and yet most of the afternoon was taken up by private members bills," she added. The amendment also contains proposals for tougher sentencing of those caught supplying the drug and the Home Office minister pointed that out in her speech yesterday. Cannabis' status would be downgraded to Class C when it becomes law. Lady Hermon said she was disappointed that the minister did not confirm the views of the law enforcement agencies which she believed would have backed up her opposition to the move. The drug is believed to have beneficial medical properties to sufferers of chronic pain and advocates of relaxing the law have argued that cannabis use is too widespread to successfully combat through the justice system.
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