cannabisnews.com: If You Want It, Brixton's Got It If You Want It, Brixton's Got It Posted by CN Staff on June 14, 2002 at 09:59:44 PT By Steve Boggan Source: Independent UK Skunk, weed, ganja. It was business as usual yesterday on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, south London, dealers chanting their three-word mantra on a dull but humid afternoon, users stuffing packets of grass into their pockets.Yards away, in white shirtsleeves and stab-proof body armour, smiling policemen and women patrolled past the colourful Brixton market. Everything was on sale here, and no one was being arrested. Some of those opposed to Lambeth's relaxed drugs policy say one of its side-effects is that dealers – whose activities are still supposed to be proscribed – are being treated in as lax a fashion as users. If it is not policy to arrest those who smoke cannabis, why bother arresting those selling it?"This is a slippery slope," Paula Santos, 36, who runs the Flower More shop in the market, said. "I don't agree with the argument that relaxing the attitude to cannabis will allow them to deal with more serious drugs. Drugs are drugs, and once you ignore one, you are sending the wrong message."Up the road, in the Satay Bar, Harry Rustam, the manager, says the relaxation of police policy has resulted in more dealers operating with impunity. "There are lots and lots of them outside, and it sometimes frightens off my customers," he said."There are more than there used to be before the relaxation. When we are closing in the dead of night, it feels pretty scary. I feel worried for myself and my staff. On top of that, people think they can light up in the restaurant. I tell them they can't because it offends some other customers. To be honest, I think it's a mistake spreading this to the rest of the country. I don't agree with it."But these people would appear to be in the minority. Surveys have shown most people to be in favour of the experiment, and the Metropolitan Police reported that the number of robberies and muggings in Lambeth in April was 468, down from 916 when the project began."I think it has been a good thing," said Jane Leaker, 32, a personal assistant, said in the trendy Dogstar bar. "Cannabis is harmless – less so than alcohol – so leaving smokers alone allows the police to concentrate on more serious drugs like heroin, cocaine and crack. You sometimes see people shooting up in gardens around here. I'd much rather the police spent their time dealing with things like that."Wilson Jennings, a 42-year-old financial director, lived in Brixton more than 20 years ago. Yesterday, revisiting his old haunts, he said: "They were the days of the Brixton riots. I used to go to work in the City, socialise there and then come home and go straight to bed. I never went out round here. It was much more dangerous then. Nowadays, it is much more pleasant, relaxed and not scary. But whether that is connected to the more relaxed attitude to cannabis – which I agree with – who knows?"On the green opposite the Ritzy Cinema, the air was heavy with the sweet, sickly smell of ganja. A group of middle-aged West Indian men were chatting, some drinking dark rum, others smoking cannabis.In spite of the relaxed attitude to the drug, none would be named or photographed, claiming it would result in them being hassled. But they admitted they were enjoying their new-found freedom."Everyone round here has always smoked, and the police mostly turned a blind eye, but there was always the risk that they would arrest you if you answered back or if they were in a bad mood," said one, who asked to be called James."Now we know they'll leave us alone, there is a much friendlier atmosphere. It's a bit less of us and them, and I get on better with them now." His friends nodded, although one or two screwed up their faces in a reluctant smile."People have been coming into the area to have a smoke, and some round here don't like that," said another of the group. "But they don't cause any trouble. There's generally a friendly atmosphere, and there can't be much wrong with that."The public may be divided on the success or otherwise of the Lambeth experiment. But local police are convinced the time they save arresting cannabis users and processing paperwork that often leads to no more than a caution, is time that is being well spent.Detective Superintendent Jim Webster, crime manager for Lambeth police, said in a recent interview: "We are prioritising the areas that local people hold to be vital, such as street crime and drug dealing. There are some 450 fewer people per month becoming victims of street robbery now as compared with six months ago."This is the result of concentrated effort from many agencies within the borough. There is a massive saving of resources achieved by this reduction in crime."The force estimated it had saved officers 2,500 hours of paperwork during the first six months of the Lambeth scheme. Complete Title: If You Want It, Brixton's Got It -- Skunk, Ganja and a Heated Debate on Every Street CornerNewshawk: p4meSource: Independent (UK)Author: Steve BogganPublished: June 14, 2002Copyright: 2002 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.Contact: letters independent.co.ukWebsite: http://www.independent.co.uk/ Related Articles & Web Site:Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special http://freedomtoexhale.com/dc.htmPolice Chiefs Set To Extend Soft Line on Drugshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13125.shtmlCannabis Scheme Saves Police Time http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12304.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Dan B on June 14, 2002 at 11:30:12 PT: One Thing To Notice . . . When you read a newspaper article, the most important thing to remember is this: newspapers know that many people do not read entire articles. Often, in fact, peoiple will read the first three or four paragraphs, decide if the article is worth reading beyond that point, then move on to another article if they decide it is not. Why is this important? Look at the way this article is layed out. If one were to only read the first three or four (or even six or seven) paragraphs, one would walk away with the impression that most people are against what is going on in Brixton. The truth is withheld until the eighth paragraph. I don't believe that this placement is a coincidence.In addition, the rule in journalism is that the least important information should appear last, the most important first. The way this article is written, one can tell that the writer includes the truth only grudgingly. Perhaps that is the newspaper's policy, but with a name like Independent UK, I doubt it. It's good that the editors at least saw fit to print the whole thing.When you read a newspaper article, pay attention not only to what is said and how it is said, but also placement of what is said. Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sandino on June 14, 2002 at 10:29:44 PT: vance wilkins, resigns in scandal story: The correct link is http://www.msnbc.com/news/766614.asp [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on June 14, 2002 at 10:28:42 PT: Something interesting was omitted...as usual Namely, whether the cannabis prices have fallen in Lambeth as a result of the actions of the police.I suspect that before too long, a price war will develop amongst dealers; with the 'shine' of 'forbidden fruit' rapidly dulling, and the 'need' for 'price supports' caused by thhe threats of imprisonment evaporate, it is only a matter of time before cannabis consumers demand lower prices. We may begin to see some real 'floating' of cannabis prices back down to what they should be...pennies on the Pound, so to speak.And this is what the anti community is pee-their-pants scared of. Because reduced prices mean reduced profits for dealers...and many will move on to more lucrative wares. Just as they always have. Reduced numbers of dealers mean reduced targets. And reduced numbers of targets means less need for manpower...and salaries.Actual crime figures have been dropping in the Lambeth area for months; a 'negative' (deflationary) price war will be the coup de grace for cannabis prohibition in the UK. It won't matter whether any legislation is passed, as the economic forces at work are always faster than the political forces that seek to control them. This is one 'tortoise-and-hare" story in which Mr. Long-Ears will win...as will we all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sandino on June 14, 2002 at 10:21:56 PT: Hey jebya! Where ya going with all those votes in your hand? I came across an interesting quote at "Impeach bush Online Petition" at http://www.petitiononline.com/voter03/petition.htm"He who casts the vote decides nothing, he who counts the votes decides everything."...Joseph Stalin June 14, 2002, Current "New Flash": Virginia House Speaker (republican) vance wilkins, resigns in scandal. http://www.msnbc.com/news/76614.asp Another slimeball repub. bites the dust; more to follow in the very near future. S.A. Homes [ Post Comment ] Post Comment