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UK: Clarke reviews 'too soft' law on cannabis
John Steele and Toby Helm The Telegraph
Saturday 19 Mar 2005 The Government last night ordered a review of its controversial decision - introduced just 15 months ago - to reclassify cannabis as a less serious Class C drug. Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said he had asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to say whether it had changed its view as a result of "emerging evidence" of a link between cannabis consumption and deteriorating mental health. In a letter to Prof Sir Michael Rawlins, the chairman of the ACMD, which was released yesterday, Mr Clarke said there was no evidence that reclassification had led to an increase in use. "However, there have been several studies produced since the decision to reclassify cannabis was taken... into links and associations between taking cannabis and developing mental problems," he wrote He referred to research in New Zealand which "considered how regular cannabis use increased the risk of developing psychotic symptoms later in life" and a Dutch paper which concluded: "Cannabis use moderately increases the risk of psychotic symptoms in young people but has a much stronger effect in those with evidence of predisposition for psychosis." He also raised the issue of the "increased prevalence of cannabis with high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol" - known as skunk. "I am aware the Dutch government are taking a particular interest in very high-strength strains and are considering whether cannabis above a certain strength should be a higher classification," he said. "I am grateful for the advice that the ACMD provide on these and other drug issues." The Conservatives, who support a return to the reclassification of cannabis as a Class B drug, said Mr Clarke's request was a "recognition that they got this wrong". They believed that Mr Clarke was preparing to overturn one of the most controversial rulings of his predecessor, David Blunkett. David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: "The downgrading of cannabis was a dreadful decision which sends out mixed messages about the dangers of drugs. We have long believed that Charles Clarke had a clearer view of the problems surrounding the liberalisation of cannabis than his predecessor. The Government will now have to clear up the mess of its hasty and ill-thought through declassification of cannabis, which Charles Clarke himself has admitted could lead people on to harder drugs. "It is now time for the Government to look at its entire drugs strategy - from its failure to deal with the bumper crop of Afghan opium, to its unmanned borders, and serial failure of its flagship drug treatment and testing orders." The Home Office played down any political motives behind Mr Clarke's move, suggesting it was prompted by medical evidence and a commitment to keep drugs law under review. But the timing was seen at Westminster as a deliberate attempt to neutralise the issue ahead of a general election expected on May 5. Mr Blunkett welcomed Mr Clarke's move, saying it would "enable a rational and sensible debate to continue, informed by the best scientific evidence and advice". He had raised the issue of cannabis classification in October 2001 in what was interpreted as a response to a police policy in Lambeth, south London, run by Cdr Brian Paddick. Cdr Paddick advocated taking a "softly, softly" approach to cannabis and said it would be better to concentrate on harder, Class A drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. Mr Blunkett asked the ACMD, a government advisory body, to report. It recommended re-classification in March 2002, arguing that while cannabis posed risks, they were less than other drugs. It advised that it be included in Class C - along with steroids and some prescription anti-depressants rather than in Class B, which includes more dangerous drugs such as amphetamines. Possession of Class B drugs was an arrestable offence but possession of Class C material was not. Implementation of the change was delayed and complicated by opposition from the Association of Chief Police Officers, which did not want to lose the power of arrest for cannabis possession in "aggravated cases", such as smoking around juveniles or persistently in public. In January 2004 legislation was passed to downgrade cannabis but retain a power of arrest, despite claims that it would send confusing messages to young people. Martin Barnes, the chief executive of the drugs charity DrugScope, said: "It is right that the classification of cannabis, as with all drugs, is closely monitored on an ongoing basis. "But we must ensure that such monitoring takes place on a rigorously scientific basis and is not motivated by political factors."
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