CANNABIS - THE
GREAT DEBATE
Pubdate:
Fri, 06 Feb 2004
Source:
Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK)
Webpage:
http://www.peterboroughet.co.uk/viewarticlemore2.aspx?sectionid=845&ArticleID=420092
Contact:
editor@petevtel.demon.co.uk
Website:
http://www.peterboroughet.co.uk/
CANNABIS
- THE GREAT DEBATE
SINCE
David Blunkett announced the reclassification of cannabis, the debate has
raged.
Today,
we ask three people who represent differing sides of the discussion - - Marcus
Davies, of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Chief Superintendent Mark Hopkins of
Peterborough police, and Lisa Mellen, team leader with Bridgegate Drug Advice
Agency - their views on the Home Secretary's plan.
David
Blunkett announced he was making cannabis a Class C drug because the previous
classification was "disproportionate in relation to the harm that is
causes". Do you agree with the change?
Marcus
Davies: There most definitely needs to be a change in the law. I don't think Mr
Blunkett has gone far enough. Making cannabis a Class C drug is like saying it
is still dangerous and I don't believe it is.
Mark
Hopkins: There's no indication to the best of my knowledge that cannabis
creates the same dangers to health as taking Class A substances.
While
there are still question marks over the possible long term psychological
effects, they do not appear to be as dangerous as those linked to taking other
illegal substances.
Lisa
Mellen: I agree that when you look at cannabis in relation to other Class B
drugs, amphetamines for example, it does not have the same long-term and
short-term risks. And from that point of view, reclassification is certainly
going to be very useful.
Mr
Blunkett stated that in the "vast majority of cases", police will now
issue a warning and seize the drugs of people in possession of cannabis. Do you
agree with this new strategy?
Marcus
Davies: This is not a great change in strategy, as warnings and drug seizures
are already common ways of dealing with people caught in possession of small
amounts of cannabis.
The
real difference is that the police will not go looking for cannabis users, but
the message is still the same that they should not be smoking the drug.
Mark
Hopkins: I don't think that has been completely thought through. Before we make
any firm decisions we need to look at the experiences of officers working in
the Metropolitan police in the Brixton area of London, who have conducted a
trail period changing their approach to policing cannabis users.
Lisa
Mellen: We work within the boundaries of whatever is the law of the day when it
comes to regulating cannabis.
But Drugscope,
the national organisation which Bridgegate subscribes to, was consulted by the
Government when they were reaching these conclusions, so we have had some say
in these latest developments on how the police plan to change their approach.
The
maximum penalty for supplying and dealing Class C drugs is to increase from
five years to 14 years. Is this fair for a Class C drug?
Marcus
Davies: These are scare tactics which won't make a difference to people who use
or deal in it.
The
real danger is you have to buy cannabis from someone who would rather sell you
something more profitable heroin, cocaine and ecstasy will make dealers far
more money.
Mark
Hopkins: Yes, dealing in cannabis remains a very lucrative and valuable trade,
as we have seen in Peterborough with the case of the Dowells.
There
is currently no suggestion of decriminalisation of the drug, and people who
deal in it should continue to face harsh penalties.
Lisa
Mellen: As an agency we are responsible for telling people the penalty for
supplying Class C has increased that is our role.
The
increase will be a deterrent for some people who will be warned off from
supplying cannabis by the threat of a longer prison term.
Mr
Blunkett said that anyone attempting to open a "cannabis cafe " will
still be breaking the law. Should this be the case?
Marcus
Davies: For the last two years I have been involved in an internet cafe shop
selling medicinal cannabis chocolate to Multiple Sclerosis sufferers.
I know
a cannabis cafe has been opened in Stockport, and there is one in London which
I go to, although I don't see why I should travel all the way to London for
something
which
to me is no different from the herbs you might put on your pizza.
Unfortunately,
as a city I think we are too narrow-minded to open a cannabis cafe in
Peterborough.
Mark
Hopkins: Yes, as they are still supplying a controlled drug. While we are
saying there is a lower impact on people's health from cannabis use, we have
not gone all the way to saying smoking it is ok.
Until
we get to that point and we may never get to that point we must continue to be
vigilant with people who sell it.
Lisa
Mellen: The review has taken into account all the things that needed to be considered
in the bigger cannabis picture, and one of those things is the type of cannabis
cafe commonly heard of in Amsterdam.
But it
is very important we remember we are not talking about decriminalisation, and
people do not make the mistake that that is what has happened here.
Cannabis
has been downgraded, but it is still illegal to supply it, and cannabis cafes
would come under the category of suppliers.
Mr
Blunkett said all "killer drugs" should remain Class A. Do you agree?
Marcus
Davies: Yes, I do believe that any drug which can kill you should remain Class
A.
But I
also believe we are educated enough to know that heroin and crack cocaine will
kill you, amphetamines will do you great damage mentally, and cannabis will
make you cough. How many people have died from coughing too much?
Mark
Hopkins: There is still great potential for abuse by individuals or suppliers,
either intentionally or unintentionally, when it comes to Class A drugs.
People
can overdose when the strength of the heroin is too low by taking too much, or
if it is too strong.
Great
care therefore should be taken in reducing the classifications of these drugs,
where there is still such a huge risk to the individual.
Lisa
Mellen: These drugs which are causing a greater degree of harm to individuals
and families should remain Class A drugs.
They
need to be dealt with more severely, as they are more dangerous than cannabis,
and create greater levels of hurt and distress.