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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Blair Warned of 'Mixed Message' on Cannabis Trevor Mason, Parliamentary Editor PA News Wednesday 21 Jan 2004 Possession of cannabis remains a criminal offence despite its downgrading from a class B to class C drug, the Prime Minister insisted today. Mr Blair was responding to a warning at Commons question time that the reclassification seemed to have sent out 'mixed messages' to young people. The warning came from Diana Organ, Labour MP for Forest of Dean. Ms Organ said that at a recent meeting with senior police officers in her constituency they discussed the relationship between crime and drugs. 'One officer raised concerns about the message that the reclassification of cannabis had with young people and that it would prove problematic with the non-tolerance policy excellently used in Forest of Dean schools. 'Do you agree the new classification of cannabis does lead to a mixed message for young people and drugs?' she asked to Tory cheers of agreement. Mr Blair said: 'I agree with you that it is important that we have a very clear message that possession of cannabis remains a criminal offence and whatever the reclassification, the police still have the power of arrest in relation to it. 'What is hoped is that the police will be able to concentrate on hard drugs - that is a huge problem, the link with heroin and crack addition and crime is well known and it's important the police use all the efforts they can to bear down on it. 'But it does not alter the fact that possession of cannabis remains a criminal offence.'
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