cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Laws Eased By Blunkett
Cannabis Laws Eased By Blunkett
Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2002 at 10:11:34 PT
Mr Blunkett's move sparked controversy
Source: BBC News
Cannabis is to be reclassified as a less dangerous drug to free-up police resources to fight hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine, Home Secretary David Blunkett has announced. He unveiled the controversial measure in the House of Commons just hours after the government's former "drugs czar" Keith Hellawell said he had quit his role as a government adviser in protest. It came shortly after Tony Blair defended the move during prime minister's question time.
Mr Blunkett also announced that the controversial cannabis experiment, currently under way in London's Brixton, would be extended across London. The decision to reclassify cannabis was in response to a report by MPs arguing that drugs policy should focus on tackling the problems caused by heroin addicts. 'Drugs are dangerous' The change will put cannabis on a par with anti-depressants and steroids. Possession of small amounts would no longer be considered an arrestable offence. Mr Blunkett countered suggestions that he was going "soft on drugs" by saying police would retain the power to arrest marijuana users in certain "aggravated" cases, such as when the drug is smoked near children. We will not legalise or decriminalise any drugs, nor do we envisage a time when this will be appropriate -- David Blunkett. He raised the maximum sentence for dealers of class B and C drugs from five years to 14 years An education campaign will be launched, targeted at young people and emphasising that "all drugs are harmful and class A drugs are killers". "There will be an increasing focus on class A drugs," the home secretary said. No legalisation "The message is clear - drugs are dangerous. We will educate, persuade and where necessary, direct young people away from their use. "We will not legalise or decriminalise any drugs, nor do we envisage a time when this will be appropriate." Mr Blunkett placed heavy emphasis on the importance of drug treatment. The committee recommended moving Ecstasy from class A to B, but Mr Blunkett rejected this, stressing: "It kills". "I will seek to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug by July of next year." 'Muddled, dangerous policy' "Cannabis possession remains a criminal offence. I am determined that the police are able to control the streets and uphold order," he said. But shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin criticised the reclassification, warning that Mr Blunkett was handing control of cannabis to dealers. The idea proposed by Mr Blunkett was a "muddled, dangerous policy" and would lead to an "open season for drug peddlers", he said. Roger Howard, chief executive of DrugScope, welcomed the measure but warned that the arrest powers in "aggravated" cases might "sow confusion in people's minds". Mr Blunkett said the Association of Chief Police Officers would shortly issue national guidance that in the vast majority of cases "officers will confiscate the drugs and use warnings". Shooting galleries He stressed: "Police time saved will be refocused on class A drugs." The government signalled its intention to downgrade cannabis last October. Mr Hellawell has fallen out with the home secretary. Since then, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, comprising medical experts, and the all-party select committee have both backed the idea. On other drugs Mr Blunkett said he accepted that expansion of "managed" prescriptions for heroin users will be necessary. But he was not persuaded by the argument for "shooting galleries" - places where people take hard drugs in a safe environment. 'Damage communities' "We will clamp down on the dealers who prey on the young," he said. Earlier, former "drugs czar" Keith Hellawell said he handed in his notice in protest at plans to move cannabis to a lower category. He launched a stinging attack on the proposals, which he claims will damage communities and lead to more drug use. But the Home Office insisted Mr Hellawell supported the move when it was first floated last year. Mr Hellawell, meanwhile, says he had made his reservations known to Mr Blunkett at a meeting last autumn. Drugscope -- http://www.drugscope.org.ukLegalise Cannabis Alliance -- http://www.lca-uk.org/Home Secretary David Blunkett -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/audio/38128000/rm/_38128024_cannabis_blunkett17.ramSource: BBC News (UK Web) Published: Wednesday, July 10, 2002Copyright: 2002 BBC Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/Related Articles:David Blunkett's Speech on Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13355.shtmlCannabis To Be Downgraded http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13354.shtmlBritish Drug Adviser Resignshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13352.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 10, 2002 at 17:21:24 PT
Detailed article from the Guardian Unlimited
I thought I'd just post the link since it has many links in the article itself. Here it is!
Cannabis
Everything you need to know about Britain's favourite illegal substance
Simon Jeffery and Jane Perrone
Wednesday July 10, 2002
1. C is for cannabis.
http://www.cannabis.com/
Class C, that is.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,2763,752608,00.html
2. The home secretary, David Blunkett, has decided to downgrade cannabis from class B to class C.
Complete Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/netnotes/article/0,6729,379678,00.html
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Comment #9 posted by mayan on July 10, 2002 at 16:54:05 PT
TroutMask...
Thanks for the poll link! As it stands now:Is it right to liberalise cannabis laws?
Yes 86% 2657 votes
No 14% 434 votes
Total: 3091 votesHere's the link:
http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/07/10/uk.cannabis/index.html Way to go Britain! Now it is your turn Canada!!!
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Comment #8 posted by Lehder on July 10, 2002 at 16:23:53 PT
Intemperance
"There are reminders to all
Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do, and that this is not a time for
remarks like that. ... It never is."
--Ari Fleischer, referring to Bill Maher Where are the protectors of the Constitution when you need them? Oh. That's right. They're busy knocking down people's doors and shooting children in the back.Whoaaa there, Dan B! Better watch it!
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Comment #7 posted by TroutMask on July 10, 2002 at 14:04:48 PT
CNN Crossfire tonight
Thanks for the info JK. Here is a link:http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/crossfire/It says tonight's guests are Al Sharpton and Assa Hutchinson. I don't know much about Al Sharpton, but it is good to have a "minority" representing the cause of decrim against the "non-minority" Assa. But Assa will continue spouting lies and self-serving propaganda so there'll be nothing new there. Assa won't admit the world is round until he is dragged around it.Assa: You're going down with the rest of your self-righteous and self-serving cronies. And we're going to have a nice tribunal for you once the world realizes the harm you and your ilk have perpetuated on the world and it's citizens.-TM
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Comment #6 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 10, 2002 at 14:04:38 PT
Like domino's
Other countries will follow this example. Certainly Canada will now have more incentive. The anti's will continue to kick and scream.
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Comment #5 posted by Dan B on July 10, 2002 at 13:53:32 PT
Sobriety
Sobriety Remark Costs Air PassengerJul 10, 2:09 PM (ET)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An America West passenger was escorted off a plane before takeoff earlier this week after she made a remark about the pilots' sobriety.The remark, which the woman later claimed was a joke, was an apparent reference to an incident last week in which two of the carriers' pilots were charged with operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol.The woman, whose name has not been released, asked a flight attendant on Monday, "Have you checked your crew for sobriety?" according to a spokesman for the airline.She was then escorted off the plane, bound for Tuscon, Ariz., and taken to the airline's station manager, who interpreted the comment as an accusation.SNIPPEDIt appears, in other words, that it is against airline regulations to inquire about safety matters while awaiting departure, and anyone who does so is subject to arrest and detainment by airline officals. What, and nobody is stepping in to defend this woman's rights? Where are the protectors of the Constitution when you need them?Oh. That's right. They're busy knocking down people's doors and shooting children in the back.But our day is coming soon.Dan B
Sobriety Remark Costs Air Passenger
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Comment #4 posted by JK on July 10, 2002 at 12:58:01 PT:
crossfire
CNN is promoting a debate on this subject on Crossfire tonight at 7.
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Comment #3 posted by TroutMask on July 10, 2002 at 11:48:07 PT
that's right, partner
Right, john wayne! Buttmunch (aka Assa) Hutchinson goes over to the UK to warn them not to decrim and, oila, we have UK decrim. The US ambassador to Bolivia warns Bolivians not to vote for the anti-drug-war candidate Evo Morales and, oila, Evo Morales ends up garnering many more votes than he would have had the US said nothing. Evo has stated he plans to send the US ambassador a gift of coca leaves to say "thanks".This UK move is going to lend support and impetus to all other countries (most importantly Canada) to relax their marijuana laws. This is truly a huge victory. This is the most significant positive change in drug laws that I've witnessed in my lifetime.-TM
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Comment #2 posted by john wayne on July 10, 2002 at 11:38:31 PT
enormous PR defeat for American DEA/ONDCP
Add it up:Brits profess lockstep cooperation in war on terror.DEA/ONDCP tries to link illegal drugs to terror.Brits liberalize cannabis laws anyway.Washington is getting blasted on the drug war from all sides now. From their formerly unquestioningly obedient British drug-war allies in the east and from the US west coast which grows less cooperative by the year, and from the south, Latin America is suggesting changes as well. How long can the fundamentalist corporate puritans in the US hold out? (Sadly, the answer might be: for a good long time.)
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Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on July 10, 2002 at 10:19:40 PT
Vote Now!
CNN poll: Is it right to liberalise cannabis laws?http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/07/10/uk.cannabis/index.htmlWe're kicking butt so far...-TM
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