cannabisnews.com: Blair Under Pressure on Soft Policing of Cannabis





Blair Under Pressure on Soft Policing of Cannabis
Posted by CN Staff on July 03, 2002 at 22:15:58 PT
By George Jones and Peter Foster
Source: Daily Telegraph UK
Tony Blair came under mounting pressure yesterday to abandon plans to extend nationwide a controversial experiment in the "soft" policing of cannabis use. He rejected a demand from Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, to scrap the trial scheme in Lambeth, south London. But he told the Commons: "If it doesn't work, then of course we won't extend it, but it is important that we take into account all the relevant views put to us." Mr Duncan Smith said police figures were already clear. 
They showed that drug trafficking had doubled and total drug offences had trebled in Lambeth during the year-long pilot scheme."Community leaders inside the area are all complaining about it," said Mr Duncan Smith. "One has actually said that 'the police have abandoned the streets to the dealers'."Mr Blair said there were "differences of opinion" as to whether it had worked or not.His comments were notably more cautious than those of Home Office ministers, who have praised the relaxed cannabis laws being piloted in the Brixton area of Lambeth. Under the scheme, people caught with cannabis are cautioned and not arrested.Bob Ainsworth, Home Office Minister, claimed in November that the scheme had been a success, saving police time and enabling officers to concentrate on tackling hard drugs.But community leaders have complained that the pilot scheme has brought more drug dealers and petty criminals on to the streets and, according to GPs and community workers, caused more children to use the drug.Kate Hoey, the Vauxhall MP whose constituency includes Lambeth, met David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, yesterday to ask him to reconsider plans to reclassify cannabis. "Based on what I have seen in Lambeth I do not believe it can be the right decision," she said.Ros Griffiths, who runs the Employment Cafe for young people in Brixton, believes the policy has sent the wrong message to petty criminals."We are sick of drug dealers operating openly on our streets and the police doing nothing to stop it," he said. "What message does that send out about the police and drug use? That the laws don't matter."A formal announcement is expected on July 13.The Lambeth pilot was introduced without consultation by Commander Brian Paddick, who is now being investigated over newspaper allegations about his personal life.• A senior criminal judge yesterday accused the police of causing the criminal justice system to "fall apart".Judge George Bathhurst-Norman, who sits as senior resident judge at Southwark Crown Court in south London, blamed the Metropolitan Police for delays in bringing defendants to trial.He warned that he might consider contempt proceedings against senior officers who he believed were refusing to allow junior colleagues to comply with court orders.Judge Bathurst-Norman accused the police of failing to disclose their case to defence teams in good time. As a result, trials had to be adjourned so lawyers could prepare a defence properly. The judge said this prompted a further court appearance and an additional drain on the public purse. "Each time it happens, the public loses a minimum of £300," he said.Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)Author: George Jones and Peter FosterPublished: Thursday, July 4, 2002Copyright: 2002 Telegraph Group LimitedContact: dtletters telegraph.co.ukWebsite: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special http://freedomtoexhale.com/dc.htmPolice Chief Scorns Cannabis Pilot Critics http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13281.shtmlMy Drugs Policy is Working http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13280.shtmlLambeth Cannabis Pilot: The Facts http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13279.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 04, 2002 at 17:29:26 PT
Bottom-line
If they don't allow reforms to move forward they'll fill the jails the way the US does, something they can't afford to do.
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Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on July 04, 2002 at 09:50:49 PT
Which community leaders?
Which ones are they talking about? Why don't they quote them here?  One guy at "Employment Cafe" constitutes "community leaders"? Or does the Telegraph decide what "community leaders" think? Of course the local government rep derides the plan - if the UK is anything like the US, she's just a stool pigeon for the well-financed LEO's and DAs.They didn't mention the poll of residents where 87% are in favor of continuing the plan. I guess the "community leaders" know better that 87% of the public.And of course, no mention of how Holland has completely eliminated street dealers by opening coffeeshops.  And no mention of the coffeeshops that have opened in the UK that are working quite well.
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Comment #5 posted by whatever on July 04, 2002 at 07:39:00 PT
Hear Hear
i detest the black market....thats why i grow my own.
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Comment #4 posted by John Tyler on July 04, 2002 at 07:07:28 PT
Hear Hear!
Whenever there is some type of experiment like this, the prohibitionist raise the red herring issue of increased lawlessness and protecting the children. It seems that the "protecting the children" response is another of the refuges for scoundrels. It is time to bite the bullet and go for full cannabis legalization.
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Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on July 04, 2002 at 04:49:58 PT
Lambeth limbo
>>"Community leaders inside the area are all complaining about it," said Mr Duncan Smith. "One has actually said that 'the police have abandoned the streets to the dealers'."  May I suggest that my right honorable friend has a point. However, the streets were abandoned to the dealers when the users were being arrested as well. As long as cannabis remains illegal, whatever the level of enforcement, that means that it will only be available for purchase on the black market. Only once you lift the sanctions for sale and allow for licenced shoppes will you strike a blow to the black market, while at the same time finding a lucrative new source of tax revenue. All this, while the people get to consume higher-quality product with less safety risks.  Can I get some "hear hear"s?
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Comment #2 posted by Industrial Strength on July 03, 2002 at 23:35:11 PT
so stupid
that these petty, ignorant people could possibly presume to know more than the POLICE as to whether or not it is working. I wonder why the UK police are so much different than their American counter parts...Maybe it's the guns.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on July 03, 2002 at 22:34:09 PT
What could happen if they continue relaxing?
Someone is bound to put it together.People will start to realize they are anointed and will then start to become thankful.Cannabis use in that combination: anointed and thankfully used, brings on what Bush and His skul n bones crew are fearful of.There has been an interesting dialogue at Christians for Cannabis.Right now, through prayer, through Christ God Our Father and the HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH, I think some things have been coming out.
 Imagine this (and in fact have You already):
 
wb, may have said He used to be anointed, but may have indicated He was not thankful... wb, may be also indicating that today, He is thankful, but not anointed... What if wb, were anointed and thankful? 
 
at page 3 at: http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=204&forum=16&start=30&32 
 [through the dialog here and elsewhere, working brain (wb & Derek Potterfrom previously) has (I believe), indicated He believes it is detramentaly bad to use cannabis, spiritually, yet He indicated (I believe), He used to smoke {anoint} it.]
 
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