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Guernsey: Class C cannabis dealers would face 14 years' jail
Rosie Allsopp The Guernsey Press and Star
Monday 19 Jan 2004 LOCAL proposals to downgrade cannabis from a Class B to Class C drug will retain tough sentences for its importation and supply. Board of Health president Peter Roffey said there was a misconception that regrading the drug meant it would become 'semi-legal'. 'The Board of Health is not sending out the message that it's all right. 'That is not true; it is purely a question of category,' he said. 'If our proposals are accepted and cannabis becomes a Class C drug there will still be a maximum sentence of 14 years for trafficking and two years for possession, which is down from four. 'It will remain strictly illegal and the advice from the Board of Health is not to use it. Cannabis will be downgraded in the UK on 29 January, and no action taken on possession of small amounts. But the maximum sentence for growing or dealing Class B and C drugs will rise from five to 14 years. Deputy Roffey said it was important Guernsey followed suit. 'We don't think it is a sensible approach if our sentences are less strict for dealing. Home Affairs Committee president Mike Torode said he would not comment on the board's proposals until he had seen the policy letter. But he said he would still oppose the reclassification of cannabis. 'I think it sends out entirely the wrong message,' he said. 'There is ample evidence that suggests it is still a very dangerous drug and I dont believe there are medical grounds for reclassification. Deputy Torode said he did not wish to send out the wrong message. 'The moment the UK took a softer attitude in places like Lambeth drug abuse became rampant overnight. 'We certainly don't want that in Guernsey. Deputy Roffey said the board's policy letter should go to the States next month. The idea of reclassifying cannabis was first raised in July 2002 when the UK announced its plans to downgrade. Deputy Roffey said at the time that he expected a lot of political resistance to the idea. 'If the UK reclassifies cannabis I think it would be strange if we took on all the UK classifications and not cannabis. --=======673642CB=======--
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