cannabisnews.com: 'Legal Muddle' Threat To Cannabis Users





'Legal Muddle' Threat To Cannabis Users
Posted by CN Staff on May 08, 2002 at 12:23:00 PT
Commentary
Source: Manchester Evening News 
People who smoke cannabis are at risk of jail sentences because of confusion over the law, claims Euro MP Chris Davies. He says recent newspaper reports have suggested that cannabis classification has been downgraded so that possession is no longer an arrestable offence.But Mr Davies - who is due to face a jury in Manchester on charges of possession of the drug at a political protest - says the law has not changed and cannabis users may face jail.
The Liberal Democrat MEP is calling on the Home Secretary to clarify the situation.A recent opinion poll found that 28 per cent of UK adults have taken illegal drugs at some time, with the vast majority using cannabis.A change in the class B drug's classification has looked likely since a Home Office report published in March concluded that cannabis was less harmful and less addictive than either alcohol or tobacco.But Chris Davies claims hundreds of people are still being arrested each week for cannabis possession while the Home Secretary prepares the way for a policy change."David Blunkett announced back in November that he was ‘mindful’ to reclassify cannabis," said Mr Davies."Instead the government has commissioned a series of reports in a bid to gain public support for a new approach."In doing so the Home Secretary has created confusion which is putting normally discreet cannabis users at risk of being branded as criminals."Source: Manchester Evening News (UK) Published: May 8, 2002Copyright: GMG Regional Digital Ltd Contact: postbag mcr-evening-news.co.uk Website: http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Dutch Experiencehttp://www.dutchexperience.org/ Euro MP Arrested on Cannabis March http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11580.shtml Euro MP's Drugs Protest http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11549.shtmlPolice Station Cannabis Protest http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11414.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on May 08, 2002 at 13:14:18 PT
May I Suggest a Solution to the Confusion?
In the words of the late Peter Tosh: "Legalise It!"
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