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UK: Cannabis Downgrading Move under Fire

Anthony Looch, Lords Staff

PA News

Wednesday 12 Nov 2003

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The Government's move to downgrade the classification of cannabis came
under cross-party fire at Westminster tonight.

Ministers are seeking to designate it a Class C drug instead of Class B,
putting it in the same category as anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines and
the 'date rape' drug GHB.

But Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, for Tories, told the Lords evidence
linking cannabis to mental disorders was coming through at an increasing
rate. Downgrading it to Class C would undermine the message about its risks.

Labour's Baroness Howells of St Davids said cannabis was a mind-altering
drug which 'has a ravaging effect on the brain'.

Tory ex-Home Secretary Lord Waddington, former Governor of Bermuda, said it
was very dangerous.

'It has come close to ruining the life of someone very close to me who has
suffered from schizophrenia caused by cannabis use, so don't tell me that
it is pretty harmless.'

Labour's Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, former Police Superintendents'
Association president, said: 'If you liberalise the use of drugs, more
people will take them. Holland is a good example.'

Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland of Asthal said any approach to the
drugs problem was risky 'but we believe that our strategy outlined here
tonight provides the best possible opportunity to get credibility into our
drugs education'.

For Liberal Democrats, Baroness Walmsley said the move was based on 'sound
evidence'. The classification system was to make clear the difference in
harm and danger levels between drugs.

Increased cannabis use over the past 30 years 'is a clear indication that
the way the legal system has been dealing with it has not worked'.

An amendment tabled by Lord Hodgson notes that the classification change
move 'may lead to increased use of cannabis, with risks to the health of
young people, and regrets that it is being made before the Government's
proposals concerning Class C drugs have been finalised'.

Peers are debating an order seeking to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act.

 

 

 

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