cannabisnews.com: Campaigners Applaud Cannabis Reform Campaigners Applaud Cannabis Reform Posted by FoM on October 25, 2001 at 08:09:38 PT By Tania Branigan Source: Guardian Unlimited Cannabis consumption is unlikely to be boosted by a relaxation of the drug laws, campaigners said yesterday. The reclassification of the drug from class B to class C, ending police powers to arrest people for possession, is a remarkable and unexpected victory for activists and users who have long argued that it is no more harmful than tobacco or alcohol. But they believe the change is unlikely to encourage non-users to take it up and will simply allow consumers to indulge unhindered. "In Holland, where it's decriminalised, the number of 15-year-olds who have tried cannabis is around 20%," said Chris Sanders of the Cannabis Coalition, who has been smoking for 34 years, since he was 13. "Here it's 49%. Which method do you think works?" Campaigners have welcomed the announcement by the home secretary, David Blunkett, as "de facto decriminalisation", a claim that the government denies, although cannabis remains illegal and it will still be possible to prosecute people via court summons. The maximum penalties for possession and possession with intent to supply have been lowered from five to two years and from 14 to five years respectively. "I think the key point will be what happens outside the big cities," said Marcus, 29, a London dealer who supplies his friends with cannabis on a non-profit basis. "For the last two years I've felt quite safe carrying it anyway. But in Scotland one of my friends was jailed for six months for possessing an ounce which was purely for personal use." "The change will be much more dramatic in rural areas and small towns; I think you'll see a huge difference in the number of people taken to court or even going to prison." Colin Davies, the founder of a cannabis cafe called the Dutch Experience in Stockport, near Manchester, and the Medical Marijuana Cooperative, which supplies cannabis to sufferers of multiple sclerosis and other diseases, has been acquitted on drugs charges three times and believes public opinion is far ahead of the government. "They can charge me 100 times, but they have to find me guilty once," he said. "I don't think any jury in this country will find someone guilty of a medical cannabis offence - and maybe not even social cannabis use, now. "But if this frees patients from being messed with by police it's a brilliant thing. Now I can carry my medicine without it being stolen by the police." The real question may be how reclassification affects the supply rather than the use of the drug. Mr Davies, who began smoking cannabis to relieve pain from spine fractures has always been open about supplying the drug to others on a non-profit basis and as a result is currently charged with importing cannabis. He accepted that it mmight be some time before he would be able to reopen the "dealer's booth" at the Dutch Experience, closed moments after it opened last month. "Now we have to deal on street corners and be less open about it," he said. "We've been forced to operate in the shadows." Steve Rolles of Transform, the campaign to reform drug laws, described the change as "moving in the direction of de facto decriminalisation," and believed it would root out many professional dealers. "Once possession is no longer an arrestable offence, people will feel more comfortable about growing. The large scale growing will wither away." Roger Bingham, a spokesman for the civil rights campaign Liberty, disagreed. "Although users have been told they won't be arrested, they will still have to have illegal sources and we don't see how that can be a good thing. "We would far rather see the government take this to the logical conclusion by legalising personal use and licensing dealers. That would take away the element of a system that puts normal people in touch with criminals who deal illegal drugs across the board." Note: Reclassification of marijuana unlikely to see rise in number of users, but law 'should go further to license dealers' Source: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK)Author: Tania BraniganPublished: Thursday, October 25, 2001Copyright: 2001 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Sites:Transform -- http://www.transform-drugs.org.uk/Dutch Experience -- http://www.dutchexperience.org/Cannabis Coalition -- http://www.schmoo.co.uk/cannabis/Special Report: Drugs in Britain -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Why Britain is Going Dutch -- http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11175.shtmlUK Bases Its New Policy on the Belgian Policy -- http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11176.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by quietcrusader on October 26, 2001 at 20:24:54 PT: Ronald Reagan happened... and his unmerry band of right-wing thugs. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by CongressmanSuet on October 25, 2001 at 19:31:33 PT Patrick... The only thing King George is "focused" on right now is the teleprompter, and whatever crap he is being fed from his puppetmasters. I will not be wearing a red ribbon that week, and I do not fly a traditional flag at home[I have a "Dont tread on me" Union[correct me if Im wrong Kap.]flag on my antenna, but I have had that for sometime]. All this fake patriotism makes me sick. "America's War on Terrorism", "America at War" "America Under Seige"[never actually saw that one, but Im sure its out there] I think dddd might be right with his assesment of the media. Doesnt this all smells of a "Wag the Dog" kinda thing? The degree of manipulation by our press is incredible. I was sorting thru a bunch of LIFE and LOOK magazines from the 60's and 70' the other day, and I ask, WHAT HAPPENED? The press was on the side of the enlightened and the peaceful back then, what happened to twist this whole thing around so much? Just basic human greed and lust for power? I think I will take a walk in the woods tonight and check out the sky, its been awhile... [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on October 25, 2001 at 11:57:04 PT: Like I said, they are waiting for 'The Word' And this proves just how right 4D is about the controlled media. They are literally 'standing by' to hear how these developments are to be 'spun'The image that comes to mind is that of the RCA Victor dog sitting by the old phonograph, waiting to hear from 'his master's voice'. The news media here seem to be caught flat-footed and confused; they haven't had any instructions on how to handle massive outbreaks of common sense and freedom amongst the populace of our allies.This is why I don't waste much time paying attention to corporate media. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Patrick on October 25, 2001 at 11:37:57 PT Red Ribbon Week In an attempt at optimism...Our President has made two public appearances over the same number of days and yet he has not worn a red ribbon? He wears a flag lapel pin. This tells me he is more focused on the country as a whole at this moment in time rather than a single issue. This is Red Ribbon Week.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11171.shtmlPlease don't read anymore into my comment than the simple observation it is. JAFO [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by null on October 25, 2001 at 09:55:05 PT acknowledgement from the US media is where? Even though they didn't take any hits for it there wasn't any praise for it either. Just a big NOTHING from the U.S. The fact that our media didn't even carry the AP article is disconcerting. Not only is our media unprepared to have a discussion about the possibility of decriminalization or legalization, but they aren't even ready to acknowledge that such discussions warrant any attention. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on October 25, 2001 at 08:38:43 PT: TM, my money is on Canada With the UK having effectively dropped out of the US-led DrugWar - and not having taken any hits from the US government! - the Canucks may feel emboldened. After all, they are a Commonwealth nation; it would't look good for the US to chastise the Canucks when it hasn't said diddley-squat to the Brits.Damn, I'm glad nobody took me up on my bet of a few months back; I'd have lost some major money on this one. I thought the Canucks would have been first for total decrim. But they won't be too far behind...I'm gonna have to check into land prices in Ontario, soon, before the rush starts :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by TroutMask on October 25, 2001 at 08:33:55 PT kaptinemo kaptinemo, perhaps we should fill them in via their suggestion box?Maybe ALL of us should notify them of the good news. Perhaps a link to monster.com would also be helpful for them. ;-)-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on October 25, 2001 at 08:30:01 PT Next stop, Canada I'm calling this a win for our side.Who's next? Jamaica or Canada?-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on October 25, 2001 at 08:29:56 PT: And STILL no squeals from DEA Agent Boot DEAWatch: http://members.aol.com/deawatch/daily.htmTheir silence on the UK developments is extraordinary to say the least. The Website whose denizens referred to the Reform movement as 'wacky legalizers' seem to be totally at a loss for words when an entire nation - an ally of paramount importance - goes de facto decrim. No doubt waiting on The Party to come up with new propaganda, I suppose. No snorting, no snuffling, no grunting, no squealing. Amazing; blessed silence. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment