cannabisnews.com: MPs Set for Cannabis Clash 





MPs Set for Cannabis Clash 
Posted by CN Staff on October 29, 2003 at 07:52:25 PT
By Matthew Tempest, Political Correspondent
Source: Guardian Unlimited
MPs will today debate downgrading cannabis to a class C substance, with the Conservatives expected to mount strong criticism of the home secretary and Labour backbenchers complaining the move will still allow arrest for possession of the drug.Following David Blunkett's announcement of his intention to reclassify the soft drug in 2001, MPs were due to debate the plans to move the drug from class B to class C - where it will be ranked alongside bodybuilding steroids and some anti-depressants.
Possession of cannabis will no longer be an arrestable offence in most cases, although police will retain the power to arrest users in certain aggravated situations - such as when the drug is smoked outside schools. The shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, was due to outline his objections to the plans this morning, ahead of the Commons debate. The Conservatives describe the cannabis proposals as "liberalisation", making the drug "semi-legal", although the government insists it will remain illegal. The Police Federation, which represents 130,000 frontline police officers, also opposes the move as "misguided and unnecessary". Its chairman, Jan Berry, said reclassification sent a "confusing and conflicting message", particularly to young people. Mr Blunkett has said the change in the law is necessary to enable police to spend more time tackling class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine which cause the most harm and trigger far more crime. But most Labour MPs, Liberal Democrats, drug charities and cannabis campaigners have long argued for the move - indeed, arguing it does not go far enough.By simultaneously increasing the maximum jail penalties for possession or dealing in class C's, while separately making possession of Class C drugs an offence warranting arrest, some drug campaigners say today's move is virtually a retrograde step - or at least gives too much power to individual police officers.Both houses of parliament and the privy council will have to approve the statutory instrument in order to downgrade cannabis. If the process goes ahead as planned, the drug will be reclassified on January 29 2004. Guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers has said that police will have discretion on whether to arrest people caught smoking cannabis. About 80,000 adults a year are currently arrested and fined for possession. Under the new rules they would receive only a warning and have the drug confiscated. The guidelines, however, failed to set a limit on what could be treated as an amount for "personal use". Danny Kushlick, director of Transform, a national charity campaigning for a reform of the drugs laws, said: "The parliamentary debate will, in all likelihood, be peppered with familiar 'reefer madness' tales of superpotent cannabis and emergency wards flooded with cases of cannabis psychosis. "However, 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. "The health impacts of cannabis use are hotly disputed - what is not disputed is that no drug is made safer if it is supplied through illegal channels. "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." The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Mark Oaten, said: "Reform of the law is long overdue." "Quite simply, the evidence does not justify the use of police time against those simply found in possession of small amounts for personal use. "Instead we should focus efforts on the hard drugs and the dealers." But he added: "The public deserves clarity from the government on this issue. "Instead, the decision to continue to arrest cannabis users has left everyone scratching their heads. "The government should have the courage of its convictions. "Stop pretending that cannabis is the problem and refocus the efforts of the police and the courts on heroin and crack cocaine." Special Report: Drugs in Britain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/0,2759,178206,00.htmlSource: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK)Author: Matthew Tempest, Political CorrespondentPublished: Wednesday, October 29, 2003Copyright: 2003 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles:Cannabis Reform Takes Step Closer http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17687.shtmlUK Govt Downgrades Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13359.shtmlCannabis Laws Eased By Blunkett http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13356.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 29, 2003 at 09:38:39 PT
MPs Back Cannabis Move 
Author: Sarah SouthertonPublished: Wed, 29 Oct 2003  
 
 MPs have backed government plans on the reclassification of cannabis.The drug will now be downgraded from class B to class C, despite Conservative warnings that the move will lead more young people to try harder substances.The government won the vote by 316 votes to 160, a majority of 156.
 
 
Home Office minister Caroline Flint argued the move was part of an "honest and credible" strategy to tackle the issues surrounding drugs."This Labour government is absolutely right to focus on the most dangerous drugs, to intervene most vigorously in the most damaged communities and seek to break the link between addiction and the crime that feeds it," she said."And to reduce harm that drugs cause by addressing the chaotic lifestyles of those users who are harming themselves and harming others."However, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin claimed that the government's drugs strategy was "a dreadful muddle".
  
 
"The tendency will be for more, rather than fewer, young people to be led into hard drugs," he warned."I don't think that's a responsible way in which to conduct the government of our country. This isn't a system that is sustainable."The move was backed by the Liberal Democrats as "a step in the right direction", although home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten agreed that the move should not be seen as "a green light for taking cannabis". 
 
 
 http://www.epolitix.com/
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 29, 2003 at 09:15:32 PT
Related Article from Scotsman UK
Government's Cannabis Plans 'Deeply Irresponsible' By Jamie Lyons, Political Correspondent, PA News October 29, 2003Government plans to reclassify cannabis risk drawing more youngsters into hard drugs, the Conservatives warned today.Speaking ahead of a Commons debate on the issue, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said the plans were “deeply irresponsible and deeply muddled”.It would mean users being forced to buy cannabis from dealers with a vested interest in moving them on to hard drugs, he said.Mr Letwin acknowledged there was a case to be made for legalising cannabis or for getting people off the drug, but there was no case for making them semi-legal, with the Government’s approach “the worst of both worlds”.Under Government plans most users would receive a warning rather than being prosecuted. But dealers will still face arrest and heavy penalties.“They are effectively saying they will turn a blind eye to people buying it,” Mr Letwin said.The Tory MP said the proposals would be popular in the short-term because most people backed the move.But the Government’s job was to make effective policy not just measures that would prove popular.“It is a deeply irresponsible policy and deeply muddled.“It cannot have any effect other than to increase the likelihood of young people being drawn into hard drugs. It cannot possibly lessen the likelihood.” http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2111493
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