cannabisnews.com: Blunkett 'To Legalise Cannabis' Blunkett 'To Legalise Cannabis' Posted by CN Staff on June 30, 2002 at 08:24:23 PT Breaking News Source: ITV.com UK The Government is considering making cannabis legal, according to reports in a Sunday newspaper. Home Secretary David Blunkett is believed to be closely monitoring the situation in Lambeth, south London, with a view to rolling out the "softly, softly" approach to cannabis use in the rest of the country.The paper suggests that Mr Blunkett is planning announce his proposals during July - which could mean the drug will be legalised by the end of the year. Scotland Yard Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair recently said the Lambeth experiment had "undoubtedly" been beneficial to the police.The pilot project, in which those found with small amounts of cannabis are warned rather than arrested, began almost a year ago under controversial Commander Brian Paddick.Mr Paddick has since been moved to a desk job following allegations about his private life."We are in the middle of a bit of a media storm over this, with different commentators taking different points of view," said Mr Blair."The experiment itself is undoubtedly, in statistical terms, a success. We have clearly saved officer time, about two man years."In January to May this year, there were 740 warnings for cannabis possession, in which people had their drugs confiscated, compared with 249 arrests in the same period last year, he said.There were also an additional 1250 stop and searches for drugs, and arrests for supply of Class A substances, such as crack, rose "significantly"."However, the perception of the experiment is different," said Mr Blair. "There is a clear perception being discussed that children are now smoking cannabis and we are going to suffer from drugs tourism."He said schools had been surveyed and there was "no evidence whatsoever" of an increase in drug use by children.There was also no evidence of people arrested for drugs being more likely to have travelled from outside the area, he said.Shadow Home Affairs Spokesman Oliver Letwin has registered his opposition to Mr Blunkett's reported move.Source: ITV.com (UK)Published: June 30, 2002Website: http://www.itv.com/Related Articles:Schools Questioned on Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13226.shtmlPolice Chiefs Set To Extend Soft Line on Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13125.shtml Brixton's Gone To Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12866.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on July 01, 2002 at 07:23:38 PT Why the delays? I've got a NORML leaflet from a few months ago which says that Blunkett's decrim decision was expected by spring. It's July - spring is over. Come on! Progress! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by cltrldmg on July 01, 2002 at 06:34:28 PT blah They use "Legalization" because it sounds more liberal, and therefore negative to the Times readers. It used to be a pretty good quality, fairly objective paper 5 years ago, but since it was bought by Murdock it has been getting steadily more right-wing and sensationalistic. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by goneposthole on June 30, 2002 at 19:34:23 PT Rule Brittannia! Brittannia rules the wavesBritons never, never, never shall be slaves [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by p4me on June 30, 2002 at 15:22:50 PT (London)Timesonline article The article titled "Cannabis to be 'legalized' within year" can be read at the DE messageboard:http://212.129.240.114/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3327There is mention of a new coffeehouse called "Amsterdam in London" on the DE messageboard: http://212.129.240.114/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33301,2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on June 30, 2002 at 14:21:23 PT Since when has Britain suffered from tourism? "However, the perception of the experiment is different," said Mr Blair. "There is a clear perception being discussed that children are now smoking cannabis and we are going to suffer from drugs tourism." The people who will be making Big Ben bongs aren't going to suffer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 30, 2002 at 13:53:39 PT Legalization or Decriminalization? There's a whole world of difference between the two. If you legalize Cannabis people need to be able to get it from somewhere. It's not a chemical compound that can be made. It must be grown. If they allow people to grow a small garden then I would say that is close to being called legalized but if it is just no fines or criminal penalities for use of cannabis then it's only half done and that's decriminalization in my opinion. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on June 30, 2002 at 13:23:38 PT Reformatted quotes from comment #4 1 - Times article description Ministers are to press ahead with "decriminalising" cannabis despite public concern that it will encourage an explosion in drug abuse 2 - Times headline Cannabis to be 'legalised' within year 3 - ITV headline Blunkett 'To Legalise Cannabis' [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by CorvallisEric on June 30, 2002 at 13:01:05 PT The Times If I were a prohibitionist, I would see this as part of a conspiracy, together with the Tories' endless spouting of obvious nonsense. The Times headline (top item on their front page) was Cannabis to be 'legalised' within year with the article description: Ministers are to press ahead with "decriminalising" cannabis despite public concern that it will encourage an explosion in drug abuse I hope I'm wrong and something new has really happened within the ruling government. Notice the progression from respectable-newspaper content to its headline to second-hand (ITV) headline. If the media can't get it right, is it any wonder that 10-year olds are "confused". [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by CorvallisEric on June 30, 2002 at 12:40:52 PT Very questionable indeed I'll bet nothing new has happened to justify this optimism. But just close your eyes and think very hard. SELF-FULLING PROPHESY. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 30, 2002 at 12:37:16 PT Wolfgang I'm hoping that the Guardian Unlimited does an article about this. The Times has an article and I think that's the sunday paper they are referring to but you must buy a subscription to the Times paper to get the article. I think the Times is a reliable paper but I'm not from the UK so I'm not 100 percent sure.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by WolfgangWylde on June 30, 2002 at 12:27:36 PT I'll have to defer to our British brothers... ...and sisters in arms. Is there any truth to this? Or does ITV.com have it all bass-ackwards? Its well known that the Lambeth experimnet will be rolled out (heh..heh..) to the rest of London this summer, but legalization by year's end? Very questionable. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment