Dopey move on new
cannabis law – published letter January 2004
Source: York Evening Press
Pub Date: Saturday 24 January 2004
URL: http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/
DOPEY MOVE ON NEW CANNABIS LAW
THE re-classification of cannabis makes little difference to the way
the law has been interpreted for some time now (`Is the country going to pot?',
January 21).
It has created a geographical lottery on whether the police will arrest
for possession or not, with at least six forces saying they will.
Arrests can also be carried out "at the discretion of a police
officer". This opens up all sorts of potential issues of discrimination
and prejudice.
The Government has provided, free of charge, the greatest bit of
advertising the criminal black market could ever have hoped for - ensuring a
continued rise in use around the country, particularly among young people.
Recent scaremongering stories regarding psychosis have been blown out
of all proportion and, as yet, are not scientifically proven.
The Royal College Of Psychiatrists said: "There is little evidence
that cannabis use can precipitate schizophrenia or other mental illness in
those not already predisposed to it."
Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh says that they should have kept the law
as it is because the police had the situation under control.
This is further evidence of how totally out of touch with the real
world our politicians are.
Fears of increased use among the young and the health issues are
further reasons for legalisation and proper regulation and control, with sound
advice on harm reduction.
The taxes raised from this, estimated at £2 billion, would help towards
rehabilitation and other drug-related problems.
A law that does more harm to society than the substance it intends to
protect us from is wrong and unworkable.
Until we have a government prepared to deal with the issue properly and
separate cannabis from the black market, Britain's drug problems will continue
to be out of control.
Steve Clements,
Church Street,
York.