cannabisnews.com: UK Govt Downgrades Cannabis 





UK Govt Downgrades Cannabis 
Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2002 at 14:33:34 PT
By Al Webb
Source: United Press International
The British government announced Wednesday it is reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug to make possessing it a non-arrestable offense and to channel limited police resources into cracking down on hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine.Home Secretary David Blunkett told Parliament that effective next July cannabis will be downgraded from a class B to a class C drug, putting it on a par with anti-depressants and steroids, and that police would simply caution those caught with it, although they also would confiscate the substance.
But even before Blunkett's announcement, Keith Hellawell, the adviser Prime Minister Tony Blair hired to lead his government's war against drugs, resigned in protest, saying that decriminalizing cannabis "is giving the wrong messages to parents and children.""How on earth can you justify messages which appear to soften the approach?" Hellawell said in a British Broadcasting Corp. radio interview after he was alerted about the government's intention to downgrade cannabis.Blunkett said that "all controlled drugs are harmful and will remain illegal," but the move on cannabis would allow authorities to "concentrate our efforts on the drugs that cause the most harm (heroin and crack cocaine) while sending a credible message to young people."The government has come under pressure from police authorities, including the Metropolitan Police and the Association of Chief Police Officers, who have complained that too much time is spent dealing with pot-smokers and not enough on dealing with harder drugs.London has about the same population as New York City, at just short of 8 million, but it has far fewer police officers, about 26,700 compared with more than 38,000 in the U.S. metropolis.A spokesman for the police chiefs said their organization "supports this initiative, of course, as a way to better utilize resources." Scotland Yard declined immediate comment, but it had previously gone on record supporting the government action on cannabis when it was first outlined last October.Blunkett said that despite its downgrading to class C, "it is important to remember that cannabis is a harmful substance that still requires strict controls to be maintained." He added that he also had "no intention of either decriminalizing or legalizing the production, supply or possession of cannabis."He said his action on cannabis was prompted because its current classification "is disproportionate to the harm that it causes." But he added that "we will not legalize or decriminalize any drugs," he said, "nor do we envisage a time when this will be appropriate."The home secretary made no mention of whether his decision might also be in response to calls by some medical doctors and researchers for a relaxation of the rules governing cannabis on grounds that it is useful in treatment of some medical conditions such as glaucoma.While those caught in possession of cannabis will get off with a warning, police and the courts will come down even harder on dealers. Blunkett said he was raising the maximum sentence for dealers in class B and C drugs -- including cannabis -- from five years to 14 years.The Home Office also warned that so-called "cannabis cafes," such as those in the Netherlands where the drug is sold and used openly, will not be allowed in Britain and that police will "swoop swiftly" to close them down.However, Hellewell said that even the limited easing up on cannabis possession sets a dangerous precedent. "It creates a fog," he claimed. "It creates a mire where people don't know which way to go."One London police officer, who asked not to be named, was also less sanguine. "The brutal frankness," he said, "is that it is going to be really hard to deal with."Even issuing warnings involves "unbelievable" paperwork back at the station. "It ties you up for eight hours at a time, and at the end of the day the police are not going to do it. It will be too much hassle." Meanwhile, the officer added, "the dealers are still open for business."From the Science & Technology DeskNewshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch - http://www.norml.org/Source: United Press InternationalAuthor: Al WebbPublished: July 10, 2002Copyright 2002 United Press InternationalWebsite: http://www.upi.com/ Contact: http://www.upi.com/about/contact.cfmRelated Articles:London Police Extend Marijuana Experiment http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13358.shtmlBritish Cannabis Growers Leery of 'Softer' Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13357.shtmlCannabis Laws Eased By Blunkett http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13356.shtmlDavid Blunkett's Speech on Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13355.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on July 10, 2002 at 17:25:26 PT
JR Ewing comes out of the marijuana closet!
After actor Larry Hagman dies, he wants to be used to fertilze a marijuana crop to be made into a cake for his friends to eathttp://salon.com/people/col/reit/2002/07/10/npwed/index.htmlHe said people should learn to eat weed instead of smoking it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by mayan on July 10, 2002 at 17:23:52 PT
Real Crime
One London police officer, who asked not to be named, was also less sanguine. "The brutal frankness," he said, "is that it is going to be really hard to deal with." The officer forgot to add "real crime" on to the end of his sentence!unrelated - 'Langley' Hacks 911 Poll! - Results 
Turned Upside Down - Hack Discovered
http://www.rense.com/general26/hacked.htm SEC & EEOC: Attack Delays Investigations(article from Sept. 17,2001) 
http://www.nylawyer.com/news/01/09/091701e.html
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment