cannabisnews.com: England OKs Recreational Marijuana





England OKs Recreational Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on September 12, 2003 at 08:16:46 PT
By United Press International
Source: Washington Times 
London -- Smoking marijuana will no longer be against the law under new British government plans, the London Mirror reported Friday. Beginning January, recreational users of the drug will be free from prosecution, unless they are pushers, the newspaper said.Cannabis will be downgraded to a Class C drug, although people smoking near schools and playgrounds will face arrest and have the cannabis confiscated.
No further action will be taken unless there are complaints from locals, evidence of repeated possession or the smoking is in public.Anti-drug campaigners fear Britain's approach will encourage youngsters to try the drug.Recent surveys reveal nearly 50 percent of teenagers have already experimented with cannabis.Home Secretary David Blunkett's plans follow a campaign by recreational users who argue the drug is less harmful than alcohol.Source: Washington Times (DC)Published: September 12, 2003Copyright: 2003 News World Communications, Inc. Website: http://www.washtimes.com/Contact: letters washingtontimes.comRelated Articles:Discretion for Police Over Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17282.shtmlPolice Set New Cannabis Guidelines http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17281.shtmlPolice Will Let Cannabis Users Off With Warninghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17277.shtmlPolice Criticised for Ignoring Changes in Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17274.shtml 
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Comment #20 posted by rchandar on September 14, 2003 at 16:27:20 PT:
britiain downgrades cannabis to class C
aha--yes, this is good, good news for them and for all of us. let us remember, britain had some of the toughest drug laws in the entire europe, the largest population of addicts, and 5 million pot smokers. letting this tenth of their population off the hook like this is a very good sign, a sign that even the most autocratic and patrician societies can adapt their policies to respond to the realitites of millions of her citizens.well, i'm not exactly getting my plane ticket to britain (i am, at any rate, an indian, so maybe i don't think they're THAT great), i'm very happy for britain and it's long-standing population of pot-smoking Huguenots.             --rchandar
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Comment #19 posted by Dan B on September 13, 2003 at 13:03:54 PT
For Those Who Object to "Drugs"
I wanted to say that I did not mean to characterize the cannabis herb as a "drug." I am merely using the terminology of government when I speak of "reclassifying drugs" in reference to cannabis. No offense intended.Dan B
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Comment #18 posted by Dan B on September 13, 2003 at 13:00:35 PT
It's Nice to Hear Good News
I have been mostly refraining from commenting lately because I usually end up more angry than I started when replying to prohibitionist articles or responding to travesties of justice like the Tommy Chong trial and sentencing (Note: Every time I hear someone bringing up Tommy Chong's sentencing, whether on the radio or the TV, invariably the people who bring it up, including beer-swilling Jimmy Kimmel, are against putting the man in prison. We have already won the hearts and minds of most Americans, and this country will not stand for cannabis prohibition much longer, I believe).So, it is especially rewarding to turn to Cannabis News today and see that Great Britain is turning from cannabis prohibition by reclassifying cannabis altogether. This is the most effective method of changing prohibition: change the classifications of drugs. I just wish I had some cannabis with which to celebrate. On another note, I have been reading Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World, and you have to get and read this book. Dan B
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Comment #17 posted by VitaminT on September 12, 2003 at 22:04:14 PT
Anyone care to speculate . . . .
What are the chances that England will employ the Coffeehouse model to separate the herb market from that of other drugs.
I think that would appeal to a lot of American travelers.
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Comment #16 posted by bongman439 on September 12, 2003 at 21:42:33 PT
HELL YA!!
Way to go Britain! Up yours Johnny Pee!
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Comment #15 posted by delariand on September 12, 2003 at 18:04:42 PT
Not suprisingly, this hasn't been on national news
You'd think a decision like this would be considered newsworthy, given the length of time that cannabis prohibition has been going on. If the American public were all looking at England, and their eyes are opened to what's been happening around the world, things might start to change around here.
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Comment #14 posted by mayan on September 12, 2003 at 17:46:54 PT
ROLLIN'
Go England! Go British Columbia! Go Cannabis! We have regained the momentum that we had just prior to 9/11. Bush's approval rating is also at it's lowest point since that time. Is that just a coincidence? Look out for another "terror attack". Bush needs one in a big way. Things are going terribly wrong for him & the terror warnings of the past couple of days have to make one wonder. But why haven't they raised the terror code level? Because they cried wolf too many times. They try to rule through fear. We will lead with hope.Bush's approval rating drops to lowest since 9/11: 
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-09-11-poll-results_x.htmThe way out is the way in...On Watching DC 9/11 - by Kristen Breitweiser:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=18&mode=thread&order=0&thold=09/11 - After two years, cover-up begins to unravel:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/s11-s11.shtmlWHY DON'T WE HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE 9/11 QUESTIONS?
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/6742902.htm 
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Comment #13 posted by John Tyler on September 12, 2003 at 16:27:11 PT
Is this the beginning of the end of the Drug War?
Some parts of the world are beginning to come to their senses and are starting to put the breaks on the insane Drug War.The Bushies can't complain very much either, as the Bushies need the Brits' support in the Bush-Iraq war. What strange events.
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Comment #12 posted by Virgil on September 12, 2003 at 15:48:10 PT
Talk about something short and sweet
The Washington Times is even terse on the fall down the steps that prohibition is taking. I guess they see the government money and readers taking a hike from their sorry newspaper. Their sorriness had to show up on the bottomline sometime.This few a words is all but silence. Maybe the bottom line will make them talk of the horrors of prohibition and quit this stupid whispering. 
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Comment #11 posted by DeVoHawk on September 12, 2003 at 14:24:16 PT:
Man in Black
This Rocks. We have far to go but this is a move to make things right.Perhaps Johnny took some of the evil with him when he died: "But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back". JC RIP
"til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white."
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Comment #10 posted by billos on September 12, 2003 at 13:56:37 PT:
Finally.. ..
some sanity in the world!!!!!!!!!!!
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Comment #9 posted by phil_debowl on September 12, 2003 at 13:09:38 PT
Poll: Is it socially-acceptable to smoke cannabis?
http://www.sky.com/skynews/homeAfter you vote, it will show a list of other poll topics, one being Should police arrest people possessing cannabis?
Poll: Is it socially-acceptable to smoke cannabis?
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Comment #8 posted by aolbites on September 12, 2003 at 12:52:56 PT
"discretion"
so is this going to be like alaska? can have whatever at home but not in "public" - sounds like they still don't like the cafe idea .. don't like anything where cops have "discretion"-------------------------The discretion also applies to repeat offenders. An earlier Acpo "three joints and you're out" rule - under which users caught more than twice in a year would be arrested not cautioned - has been dropped. Instead, an officer may make an arrest "where locally the person is known to be repeatedly dealt with for possession of cannabis".--------------------------sounds like a crappy deal to me.
UK: Discretion For Police Over Cannabis
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 12, 2003 at 10:39:15 PT
Friendly Reminder 
Hi Everyone,I just to mention that this link brings up all the articles that I've posted on CNews and in the order they are posted. Here it is! http://www.cannabisnews.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/newsread.pl?25000
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Comment #6 posted by VitaminT on September 12, 2003 at 10:37:52 PT
I needed some good news!
Now my naughty bits are all tingly!
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on September 12, 2003 at 10:26:41 PT:
Trekkie, it's already been tried
When Rudy Giuliani, that arch foe of cannabists who spent millions of dollars hunting and incarcerating us, went to get his knighthood from the Queen, he mouthed off against Merrye Olde England going decrim. The Brits politely held their tongues, knowing that Rudy is a sick man - in more ways than one.But you know what many of them had to be thinking: WANKER!
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Comment #4 posted by goneposthole on September 12, 2003 at 10:04:44 PT
England swings
and sucker punches prohibition. Prohibition knocked out cold.
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Comment #3 posted by Trekkie on September 12, 2003 at 08:36:32 PT
Good News, Bad News...
FAN-FREAKIN'-TASIC news from the land of Monty Python and Guiness.But, now we (US taxpayers) are gonna have to foot the bill for A$$croft the fly to the land of Eng, to give them an earful of propoganda...The Union Jack just got a whole lot cooler!!!
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on September 12, 2003 at 08:25:37 PT:
Direct hit amidships!
In BC, cannabis has practically been legalized in the latest ruling of Judge Chen. Now we hear that (truly) Great Britain is pitching the laws. The British Commonwealth is firing torpedoes into the American vessel USS DrugWar, and has hit the magazines. The secondary explosions will prove very interesting, indeed.  
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 12, 2003 at 08:18:44 PT
Tally Ho!
Way to go England!
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