cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Reform Takes Step Closer Cannabis Reform Takes Step Closer Posted by CN Staff on October 29, 2003 at 07:41:01 PT Cannabis users will no longer be arrested Source: BBC News Home secretary David Blunkett is defending his plans to relax cannabis laws in the face of stiff opposition. MPs were due to debate Home Office proposals on Wednesday to downgrade cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug, which would put it in the same group as anti-depressants and steroids. If the plans are approved, the drug will be reclassified in January, after which time people will not usually be arrested for possession. But under guidelines drawn up by the Association of Chief Police Officers last month, police will still have the power to arrest users in special circumstances, like when the drug is smoked outside schools. " It is important that the debate over potential dangers of cannabis is not confused with the debate over how its use is most effectively regulated and controlled. " - Danny Kushlick, TransformQ & A: Cannabis Guidelines: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17290.shtmlThe Conservatives have described the proposals as "liberalisation" and say cannabis will become "semi-legal", a claim denied by the government. 'Confusing message' And the Police Federation, which represents 130,000 police officers, is also against downgrading the drug to Class C. Chairman John Barry said the plans sent out "a confusing and conflicting message", especially to young people. Mr Blunkett believes the law must be changed to let police spend more time dealing with more harmful Class A drugs like crack cocaine and heroin which account for more crime. If both the Houses of Parliament and the Privy Council approve of the change, cannabis will officially be downgraded on January 29. At the moment, about 80,000 people are arrested and fined for possession every year. After a change in rules, anyone caught in possession of cannabis will only receive a warning and will have their drugs confiscated. 'Reefer madness' But some drugs law campaigners are concerned about a failure in the guidelines to spell out the amount of cannabis deemed as being "for personal use". Danny Kushlick, director of Transform, a national charity campaigning for reform, said that while the health impacts of cannabis were hotly disputed, it was obvious that illegal production was less safe than if it were regulated. "The only way to ensure that cannabis users are aware of the strength, purity and potential dangers of cannabis is to legalise, regulate and control its production and supply," he added. But Lesley King-Lewis, chief executive of Action on Addiction, said the move would increase cannabis use. He said: "As many as one in 10 cannabis users become addicted. Cannabis use is associated with cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, oesophagus and lung and reductions in fertility as well as with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. " Source: BBC News (UK Web) Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2003Copyright: 2003 BBC Contact: newsonline bbc.co.ukWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Related Articles:UK Govt Downgrades Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13359.shtmlCannabis Laws Eased By Blunkett http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13356.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 29, 2003 at 09:04:04 PT If It Makes a Person Feel Good It must be addictive. I get very tired of the use of the word addictive. It has been way overused. Some substances are addictive but some just are nice to have. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BigDawg on October 29, 2003 at 08:38:12 PT It really gets old... listening to the same old "conflicting messege" argument.It seems to me that equating cannabis use with hard drugs is the conflicting msg that ultimately causes youth to disregard ALL negative reports about drugs.And the comment about 1 in 10 cannabis users becoming addicted and listing some questionable health issues is kind of reduculous when coffee is MORE addictive (using the same mechanisms as the hard drugs) and has a looooong list of health issues that AREN'T questionable. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Virgil on October 29, 2003 at 08:33:52 PT Another day of lying for the prohibitionists But Lesley King-Lewis, chief executive of Action on Addiction, said the move would increase cannabis use. The big thing is the increased penalties for cultivation. It is like an unseen force wants no competition on supply with penalties to wipe out the competition while preserving the price-of-gold market.He said: "As many as one in 10 cannabis users become addicted. Cannabis use is associated with cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, oesophagus and lung and reductions in fertility as well as with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. "Here we see prohibition defended by lies and demonization and disingenuousness. It is the same crap we hear from the lair of liars at the ONDCP If cannabis were in soup it would be regarded as the most nutritious ingredient. Talk about mmmm...good.Richard Cowan’s latest work- http://www.marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=716 - led up to a beautiful closing line- Cannabis prohibition is a counterproductive fraud, but then, so are the appalling people who govern us. When a majority of people are calling for regulation like alcohol and tobacco, the governments just increase the penalty for growing as if pension funds and unemployment funds and general funds are broke or going broke. Year after year of fraud and injustice and the governments propaganda the people into wanting insanity for infinity. The grief is not good. The grief is not necessary. The politicians now in office have 300,.000,000 to replace them. It is time we put some casualties on the incumbents and sent them home and make them cry. Let them feel the rejection that this War of Insanity requires. Fire them all and lets start a new crop. This harvest was totally bad and should be totally burned to end the infection. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment