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UK: Cannabis changes agreed by Lords

BBC Online

Thursday 13 Nov 2003

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Peers have backed a move to downgrade cannabis, putting it in the same
group as tranquilisers and steroids.

The reclassification of the drug from Class B to C - meaning people will
not usually be arrested for possession - will now go ahead in January.

The change was approved in the Lords by 63 votes to 37, but peers also
agreed an amendment attacking the plans.

"It may lead to increased use of cannabis, with risks to the health of
young people," they said.

'Risky'

In the amendment, moved by Tory peer Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, they
added that the government should have waited to deal with cannabis until
after its proposals for making penalties tougher for all Class C drugs had
been finalised.

The amendment has no legal effect, however, and the reclassification will
come into force on 29 January as planned.

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

Before the Lords passed the amendment, the reclassification came under fire
from both Labour and Tory sides.

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

Lord Waddington, former Tory home secretary and ex-governor of Bermuda,
said: "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."

'Sound evidence'

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

But for the Liberal Democrats, Baroness Walmsley said the move was based on
"sound evidence".

The changes mean most people caught in possession of cannabis will receive
only a warning and will have the drug confiscated.

Dealers, however, could face up to 14 years in jail.

Police will also retain the power to arrest users in special circumstances,
such as when the drug is smoked outside schools.

The reclassification has been criticised for sending out confusing messages
on cannabis and drugs in general.

But the government believes the chance will free police to spend more time
dealing with more harmful Class A drugs like crack cocaine and heroin,
which account for more crime.

At the moment, about 80,000 people are arrested and fined for cannabis
possession every year.


 

 

 

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