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UK: Call for 'Blind Eye' to Cannabis

Jude Sheerin

Scottish Press Association

Thursday 29 Jan 2004

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Socialist firebrand Tommy Sheridan today called on police to turn a blind
eye to the use of cannabis - which he said was no more a crime than doing a
jigsaw - as the drug was officially downgraded to class C.

Cannabis campaigners in Scotland are set to test the reclassification of
the banned substance, which came into force at midnight.

The Scottish Cannabis Coffeeshop Movement (SCCM) has invited people to use
cannabis in the the Purple Haze cafe in Leith, Edinburgh.

But police today emphasised that cannabis remains illegal and they will
enforce the law where-ever it is flouted.

Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) leader Mr Sheridan said: 'This law is a
mess. Cannabis, like alcohol, is not a harmless drug but those who consume
it are no more criminals than those who are devoted to jigsaws.

'Smoking cannabis may still be a crime but it's a victimless crime and
police should spend their time on other more pressing matters.

The reclassification of the drug from Class B to Class C means police in
England and Wales will rarely make arrests for possession of small amounts
of the drug.

But police in Scotland have vowed to take a hard line and clamp down on
anyone found using the cannabis.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said today: 'We don't have the
option of taking a relaxed approach to cannabis because it's still illegal.

'Anyone found dealing, using or in possession of the drug will be dealt
with and we have explained that to the people at Purple Haze - we simply
don't have the option not to enforce the law.'

Purple Haze owner Paul Stewart has said people would have to bring their
own cannabis to the cafe but the drug would not be on sale.

SSP drugs spokesman Kevin Williamson has called for a network of cannabis
tolerance zone across Scotland for the 500,000 Scots he claims use the drug.

 

 

 

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