cannabisnews.com: Britain to Stop Arresting Most Users of Marijuana
Britain to Stop Arresting Most Users of Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2002 at 22:01:29 PT
By Warren Hoge
Source: New York Times
Britain, which has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in Europe, said today that it was relaxing its laws on marijuana smoking, keeping the practice theoretically illegal but making private use in discreet amounts no longer subject to arrest.The decision, announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett in the House of Commons, stirred criticism from the Conservative opposition and some Labor politicians and prompted the country's former antidrug chief to resign as a government adviser because, he said, Britain is "moving further toward decriminalization than any other country in the world."
Mr. Blunkett tempered his announcement, which takes effect next July and puts cannabis on a par with antidepressants and steroids, by saying he would also raise the punishment for marijuana dealing and step up drug education and treatment for abusers.An estimated five million people in Britain regularly use marijuana, and government data show that its use has risen sharply in the last 20 years. A study published last year on drug habits in the European Union showed that 20 to 25 percent of adults in Britain used marijuana — about the same rate as shown for Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.The government action followed recommendations of a parliamentary committee in May, which said a new attitude of tolerance would give drug policy greater credibility among young people and help the police direct resources toward heroin and cocaine. Britain has the most drug-related deaths of any country in the European Union, with heroin cited as the principal cause.The parliamentary committee also suggested reclassifying the drug Ecstasy, but Mr. Blunkett said he had rejected that advice.Several other European countries have already relaxed their drug laws. The Netherlands has legalized marijuana, while Luxembourg has ended jail sentences for marijuana possession. Spain and Italy do not jail people caught with drugs meant for personal use. Last year Portugal eliminated jail time for possession of small amounts of any illegal drug.Under the British reform, possession of marijuana would no longer be considered an arrestable offense. Though that will not take effect for a year, from now on any police action will be limited to issuing a warning and seizing the drug.Mr. Blunkett countered suggestions that Britain was going "soft on drugs" by saying the police would retain the right to arrest users in cases like smoking outside schools or in the presence of children. The Home Office emphasized that any marijuana cafes where the drug was sold and used openly remained illegal and would be closed."It is critical that police can maintain public order," Mr. Blunkett said. "Where cannabis possession is linked to aggravated behavior that threatens public order, the police will retain the power of arrest."Scotland Yard said it welcomed the reclassification of the drug combined with maintaining a discretionary police power to intervene. The drug spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, Andy Hayman, said, "The retention of police power of arrest will enable the police to have greater flexibility in dealing with incidents on the street."Mr. Blunkett insisted that today's move did not constitute legalizing marijuana. "All controlled drugs are harmful and will remain illegal," he said. "We must concentrate our efforts on the drugs that cause the most harm, while sending a credible message to young people."But Keith Hellawell, Prime Minister Tony Blair's onetime antidrug chief, said the new policy "would virtually be decriminalization of cannabis, and this is, quite frankly, giving out the wrong message." He coupled the announcement of his resignation from a government advisory post with a strong attack on the policy, saying it would damage communities and lead to more, not less, drug use."It's actually a technical adjustment which in the reality of the law doesn't make a great deal of difference," Mr. Hellawell said, "but it's being bandied about by people as a softening of the law."He said that there had been an increase in marijuana smoking among young people and that more people were seeking treatment for its effects. "Why on earth, when there are these problems, we change our message and give a softer message, I don't know," he said.Mr. Hellawell, the former chief constable of West Yorkshire, was named the government's first antidrug coordinator by Mr. Blair in 1997, but last year he was sidelined by Mr. Blunkett from the $160,000-a-year post and made a part-time adviser on the international drug trade.The new police tolerance has been in effect on an experimental basis in two London neighborhoods, Lambeth and Brixton. The Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, visited the Brixton project on Tuesday and told the Commons today that residents had told him it had led to rampant dealing on their streets. He said Mr. Blunkett's plan amounted to "handing over drugs policy to criminals on the street."Oliver Letwin, the Conservatives' spokesman on law enforcement, complained that "the middle ground of calling it illegal, leaving it in the hands of dealers rather than in legitimate tobacconists or whatever, then turning a blind eye to it, is the worst of all worlds."Kate Hoey, a Labor member of Parliament who represents one of the affected London areas, said the government could live to regret today's decision because of the increasing strength of marijuana being peddled on the street."It is a very strong type of cannabis, it's genetically modified, it is not perhaps like people tried 20 years ago," she said, "and we have no idea of the long-term effects of constant hard smoking that some kids are doing now."Complete Title: Britain to Stop Arresting Most Private Users of MarijuanaSource: New York Times (NY)Author: Warren HogePublished: July 11, 2002Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company Contact: letters nytimes.com Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Related Articles:Britain Loosens Up on Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13367.shtmlUK Govt Downgrades Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13359.shtmlCannabis Laws Eased By Blunkett http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13356.shtmlCannabisNews Articles -- Cannabis - UKhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=+cannabis+uk
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Comment #40 posted by Nuevo Mexican on July 11, 2002 at 08:43:25 PT
Still celebrating Englands decision...
what a great day 7/10 was for the world. Not so coincidentally, it was a Cancer New MOon (Cancer rules 'the people') and this is why the founding fathers, Masons who practiced Astrology, conciously decided on our date of birth by setting the 4th of July as the best date for the 'American Dream' to manifest. 226 years later we get 5 planets in Cancer on a New Moon and wallah, the stock market dives, bush is discredited, the U.K. downgrades Cannabis and Cheney gets sued by Larry Klayman! Remember July 10th of 2002! Much like Aug 11th, 1999, when Gary Johnson shot the first volley across the bow of the war on people! dddd, I was there watching the Orchestra, same substance, with a little hash as well, I beleive, (I couldn't move to quickly) and what an awesome experience!
73 or 74, Robin Trower opened! What a show! The war is over!
shrub is going down fast, and Robert Bryd will have none of it, just watched him destroy bush on C-span! Get ready to act on short notice, as something fishy is going on, and a declaration of martial law is around the corner, check 'Homeland Security' on the ELEVENTH of July, our monthly 911 Fear Alert! Watch out for the man behind the curtain, pay attention to him!
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Comment #39 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 11, 2002 at 08:37:03 PT
dddd
I predict a nationwide enron/worldcom event...we have just seen the tip of the iceberg!....Fraud Dammit!When the Nasdaq was pumped all the way to 5000 I thought something was wrong, they were targeting stock at average people, people that don't know anything about investing; the weak. I had a feeling it was all a scam and pulled everything out at about 4500, that was enough for me.Anything that's built on an illusion doesn't have a foundation and will certainly fall. The illusion workers in this government are hard at work but are struggling these days, it's hard to keep everybody in the dark.
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Comment #38 posted by goneposthole on July 11, 2002 at 07:20:02 PT
Hoyt Axton
You are correct, sir.
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Comment #37 posted by qqqq on July 11, 2002 at 07:17:15 PT
....Hoyt...
....Axton?.....
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Comment #36 posted by goneposthole on July 11, 2002 at 07:02:54 PT
proofread posts
are less likely to contain dangling participles and misspellings.I really don't give a rip, though.And anyhow, if cannabis were left alone, all of this stuff wouldn't be necessary.I'd better get to work so I can lose some more money today."I don't give a damn about a greenbacka dollar. spend it fast as I can for a wailin' song and a good guitar. The only things that I understand. Oh yeah, the only things that I understand." Hoyt
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Comment #35 posted by goneposthole on July 11, 2002 at 06:50:48 PT
The fraudulent drugwar
is to blame for the entire mess. Predatory ecomonics never works (i.e. forfeiture laws and so-called crimes)Arresting people for growing and consuming a plant is a crime against humanity.You are welcome.
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Comment #34 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 06:18:50 PT
....links....
..goneposthole..thanks for that link.....I predict a nationwide enron/worldcom event...we have just seen the tip of the iceberg!....Fraud Dammit!
dd..d...d
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Comment #33 posted by goneposthole on July 11, 2002 at 05:48:30 PT
economics
This guy has a good grasp of what is going on in the stock market.It ain't what it used to be.Fraud Almighty
http://home.flash.net/~rhmjr/index.html
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Comment #32 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on July 11, 2002 at 05:48:24 PT
the Zombie Poll
I got Marijuana.com to post an article Iw rote and I devised a survey to sort of go with it.Stronger, schmonger re: the cannabis scare commentaries.Cannabis prohibition is a threat to National security, plain and simple.Its just that pot is so much less dangerous to police than real crime or terrorists.
Does Cannabis Prohibition impair National Security ?
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Comment #31 posted by qqqq on July 11, 2002 at 05:10:01 PT
..yea...
..E Pluribus GoonHam....
One nation,,,Under Fraud,,,,,
..Fraud Bless America....
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Comment #30 posted by goneposthole on July 11, 2002 at 05:05:30 PT
The Gov
Dick Cheney is being sued.I guess the money motto needs to be changed to: In Fraud we Trust.It's a wild and funny ride.
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Comment #29 posted by pppp on July 11, 2002 at 05:04:59 PT
..do something..........
Take Action at: http://ga1.org/campaign/rave
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #28 posted by pppp on July 11, 2002 at 04:59:27 PT
....wanna get upset?...
go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and
under "bill number" search for S2633.......please check it out....you will not be bored.....this is real.
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Comment #27 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 04:54:21 PT
...Right on Doctor BGreen...
...the young dddd was awestruck by McLaughlin...4d was also into Pat Martino around this early 70s time..... ..dddd will never forget the time he dropped Windowpane,and witnessed the Mahavishnu Orchestra do the Inner Mounting Flame concert ,,,and a year or so later,,similar certain ergot compounds were enjoyed at the Birds of Fire concert....If John McLaughlin never did psychedelics,then he did them in a form that involves obscure religious items from the Far East.,,thus proving my theory that you dont necessarily need to swallow "drugs" to get high......LoL...........4d
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Comment #26 posted by BGreen on July 11, 2002 at 04:39:17 PT
I don't own Extrapolation
I went to CDnow.com and listened to 60-second realaudio clips of each track. It's more reminiscent of the post-bop/fusion albums he did with Miles than of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I wonder if John turned on to psychedelics, because he pushed the limits of "out" in the 70's that Miles defined?This had to be an eye opener for a young dddd.
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Comment #25 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 04:00:41 PT
..Extrapolation...
...1969....his first album.....quite different than the amazing Mahavishnu Orchestra things...
...I "segued" in a very similar way BGreen....dddd
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Comment #24 posted by BGreen on July 11, 2002 at 03:35:33 PT
John McLaughlin
I segued from rock into jazz through the fusion groups of the 70's. I loved the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, etc.. It's so cool to see most of those cat's still playing. It usually takes an injury or death to stop a musician.
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Comment #23 posted by BGreen on July 11, 2002 at 03:26:27 PT
Yeah, what dddd said
The Chris Farley Organization has affiliated themselves with preexisting prohibitionist entities, and thus, are encouraging the status quo.I'm sure they would say they'd rather have Chris in jail than dead, but that would make them idiots. My family knows I would choose death over incarceration, because they know without a doubt I don't belong in prison.
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Comment #22 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 03:06:33 PT
...Indy....
...thanx for comment #21....It killed me!...4d
P.S....I'm glad I'm not the only one who waits until the last last minute to sleep,and/or pack before a trip.
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Comment #21 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 02:52:11 PT
motivational speaker
"I hear lately you've been using your papers not for writing, but for rollin' DOOBIES...You'll have plenty of time for dooby rolling when your living in a VAN down by the RIVER." That was a great character.
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Comment #20 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 02:48:56 PT
I agree
that the government that's in place now has to go, but I think all governments should try to give people truthful information about drugs. Truthful being the key word. I think I'm often guilty of judging things on the principle as opposed to the practice.
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Comment #19 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 02:28:36 PT
...the Wrongness...
..."Just what is wrong with telling people to not do drugs? Freebase isn't good for anyone. Should be legal, yes, but still. Theres a difference between promoting abstaining from drugs and promoting the illegality of drugs."..
.....I guess there is nothing "wrong",,with telling people to not do drugs....I think the 'wrongness' ,starts to happen when a behemoth government bueracracy,(sp?),begins to be the overlord of such advice,,and funds obscure and questionable entitys within government,that spend absurd sums of money to attempt to manipulate public opinion,,yet ignore the big daddys of crime like those in the corporate world who financially rape our children!!!....
Chris Farley would not approve of the idiotic ,(yet perhaps well intentioned) campaign to tell people not to do drugs.......I really liked Chris Farley,,,especially his thing where he was Matt Foley.,,he was some kind of 'family therapist',..,,and he lived in "a van,down by the river"...dddd
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Comment #18 posted by qqqq on July 11, 2002 at 02:11:54 PT
....yup....
...get on the bad side of some of them tempermental gods,,and the going can get quite rough......To me,,JAH is another name for the "god",,who is God...and you are right about the Smile.
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Comment #17 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 02:08:07 PT
Chris Farley
Just what is wrong with telling people to not do drugs? Freebase isn't good for anyone. Should be legal, yes, but still. Theres a difference between promoting abstaining from drugs and promoting the illegality of drugs.
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Comment #16 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 02:06:41 PT
.BGreen...speakin' of Extrapolation...
...Being a guitarist,I would hope that you are familiar with the early John Mcglaughlin album of that name...That's where I first became familiar with the word,,,it is an outstanding guitar album...dddd
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Comment #15 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 02:03:51 PT
Jah
Jah always smiles on you, it's the other, more tempremental Gods I'm worried about...lol.
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Comment #14 posted by qqqq on July 11, 2002 at 01:57:44 PT
..Have a good trip Indy!...
...May JAH Shine on You!!!!!!!!
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Comment #13 posted by dddd on July 11, 2002 at 01:55:54 PT
..BGreen..
..I saw that ad too,and I feel the same as you........and ,,why isnt "food" included in "substance abuse"?......I am waiting for someone to invent a smokeable form of bacon,or lobster,,(a bunch of skinny people strung out from smoking the ol' bacon pipe.)....)?).........dddd
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Comment #12 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 01:47:46 PT
forced vs flow
what's the difference? LoL. I am a nebulous being. Extrapolation, another one I didn't know. Cannabisnews, steppin up my vocab, all right. I really dont try and be a pretentious ass, I hope that's not what I come across as. My verbosity stems not from pomposity, and damned if I can't flow...lol.Argh, I should be sleeping. I still have packing and such, tomorrow being the first day of four of total madness. Ah, folk fest, music, people, but most importantly, psychedelic drugs.
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Comment #11 posted by null on July 11, 2002 at 01:44:13 PT
NY Times daily email
It felt so good to see this article at the top of the International section in todays NY Times email headlines. That means A WHOLE LOT of folks are going to know about this!!One small step for a man, one giant leap for human kind... :)
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Comment #10 posted by BGreen on July 11, 2002 at 01:32:55 PT
I saw a commercial tonight for this
The Chris Farley Foundation has joined the ranks of others involved in the purveying of prohibitionist propaganda. They are blaming substance abuse for Farleys' death, but I think they're missing the BIG picture.Farley was so FAT that he wasn't going to last much longer, no matter how many other substances he was using. Does the name John Candy ring a bell?There is NO WAY IN HELL that Chris Farley would have supported the incarceration of his fans. He killed himself, which is a right we all should have, end of story. Stop whoring his good name for a misguided cause.
The Chris Farley Foundation
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Comment #9 posted by qqqq on July 11, 2002 at 01:27:01 PT
....verry interesting....
.."...I don't know whether
to burst into a fit of psychotic laughter or punch the computer monitor, the two urges balance each other out, leaving
me with a hollow, numb, stunned feeling."
"........the largest, most grandiose lunatic asylum in the world."....well..it would appear that we have gained an insight from a Canadian point of view,,as to the origins of lunacy!....As I hope you know,,it is not my intent to be specifically critical of you Indy,,,,but ,,although I appreciated the phrase " ..grandiose lunatic asylum..",,I'm afraid that its' genisis is sufficiently nebulous to cause me to inquire as to the origin of the assumed extrapolation contained within the phrase..(?)...
...(..I'm kinda jivin' ya Indy,,,but it sure nuff did sound fancy though,,,huh....it was sorta meant to be equivelently verbose.....something about that word "grandiose",that I like..)
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Comment #8 posted by BGreen on July 11, 2002 at 01:10:07 PT
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
I don't think Canada can do anything, living next door the largest, most grandiose lunatic asylum in the world.Does anybody know a large Native American who could bust us out of here?
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Comment #7 posted by idbsne1 on July 11, 2002 at 00:41:35 PT
WOOHOO!!!!!
ditto FoM....idbsne1
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Comment #6 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 00:37:40 PT
stunning effect
Whenever I hear the "cannabis is alot stronger now, it's not the same as 20 years ago" argument, I don't know whether to burst into a fit of psychotic laughter or punch the computer monitor, the two urges balance each other out, leaving me with a hollow, numb, stunned feeling. I think England will see the light before Canada. I don't think Canada can do anything, living next door the largest, most grandiose lunatic asylum in the world.
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Comment #5 posted by dddd on July 10, 2002 at 23:57:38 PT
....next July...
"Mr. Blunkett tempered his announcement, which takes effect next July and puts cannabis on a par with
antidepressants and steroids, by saying he would also raise the punishment for marijuana dealing and step up drug
education and treatment for abusers."
...Just watch.....If he hasnt already,,that freak Walters will blast this with his usual psychobabble..As the year goes by,,strange threats will be made behind the scenes,,but I think the British,,as well as the rest of the world,are becoming really disgusted with the disgusting empire .......
...In a way,,we have a new wonderful situation here in the empire ...Dubya has got his work cut out for him. ......Apart from the usual worries of maintaining the facade of legitimacy,,the empire is going to have to do even more strange,,desperate pretending,in order to mask the public eyes from the reality of the Whopper of "corporate responsibility"...If this was the real democracy,,The President would have instructed the Attorney General to launch an immediate investigation of these corporate crimes..SWAT teams would have been deployed to secure the evidence...CEOs,and other executives would have been brutally slammed on the floors of their plush offices,,and handcuffed ,with shotguns aimed at their skulls!.....I mean let's talk "crime",,and "criminals",,,and then let's consider levels of "crime".......and,,how bout if we measure "crime",by how much harm it does to our "children"......I dont care how many "drugs" a person sells,,or what sort of "drug kingpin",gets busted,,,it all pales in comparison to these corporate "KINGPINS"!!!!!...These corporate crooks have committed crimes that make even the worst "drug offenders",,look like jaywalkers!!! .......
"At his pitiful Monday press conference Bush said the way to stop corporate crime is by "...calling on
people's better nature." Imagine the outrage that would result if any public official suggested that a poor
person, convicted of stealing only infinitesimal fraction of what has been robbed by any one of the con
artists at several publicly-traded criminal enterprises, should simply dig into his or her better nature to
preclude further criminal acts. It is outrageous that this man, who has been nothing but crooked in all of
his business endeavors and now sits in stolen office, can come before the public and speak of "better
nature" and character" and "conscience" and have anyone respond with anything less than a belly laugh." .
"A military drug investigation has led to the conviction of more than 80 enlisted marines and sailors at
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for using and selling Ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine. All
were sentenced from 3-19 years in prison, which means that it is better to get caught selling drugs on an
army base than on a New York street corner or anywhere in Texas. Thank goodness they were caught before they got assigned to a sensitive job like shooting down
missionaries mistaken for drug runners. You don't suppose there were a few Camp Lejeune grads on that wedding party raid, do you? Actually this proves marines are tough, the average person can only withstand a few days at Camp Lejune
before begging for a morphine drip.". ..Barry Crimmins
4d
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 10, 2002 at 22:49:50 PT
MikeEEEEE
Thanks for the CNN Poll Update. We are really winning. Voting on these polls is important I believe. Great news day. I'll sleep with a smile on my face tonight.
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Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 10, 2002 at 22:32:26 PT
CNN Poll
Is it right to liberalise cannabis laws?
Yes 87% 3474 votes
No 13% 534 votes
Total: 4008 votes http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/07/10/uk.cannabis/index.html
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 10, 2002 at 22:31:53 PT
NBC Marijuana Poll
Should smoking marijuana be made legal?
Current Results: Choice Votes Percent of 4225 votes
Yes, it's like tobacco or alcohol. 2903 -- 69%
Yes, but only for real medical needs. 613 -- 15%
No, it's a dangerous drug. 709 -- 17% Vote Here: http://www.nbc3.com
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Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 10, 2002 at 22:27:44 PT
Ms Hoey
Kate Hoey, a Labor member of Parliament who represents one of the affected London areas, said the government could live to regret today's decision because of the increasing strength of marijuana being peddled on the street."It is a very strong type of cannabis, it's genetically modified, it is not perhaps like people tried 20 years ago," she said, "and we have no idea of the long-term effects of constant hard smoking that some kids are doing now."
If sold in a regulated market (legal) there would certainly be ID checks for the kids. Legalize Ms Hoey....and you will almost certainly go away like Keith Hellawell, the former "drugs czar."
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