cannabisnews.com: MPs Vote To Downgrade Cannabis MPs Vote To Downgrade Cannabis Posted by CN Staff on October 29, 2003 at 10:58:09 PT Cannabis users will no longer be arrested Source: BBC News MPs have backed a move to downgrade cannabis, putting it in the same group as tranquilisers and steroids. The reclassification of the drug from Class B to Class C was supported by a majority of 156, despite Tory warnings it would lead more young people into harder drug use. Junior Home Office minister Caroline Flint rejected claims that cannabis would become "semi-legal", claiming the move was part of an "honest and credible" strategy to tackle the wider drug problem. The changes, which will come into effect in January next year, mean penalties for possession of the drug will be lessened, but dealers could face up to 14 years in jail. Under guidelines drawn up by the Association of Chief Police Officers last month, police will also retain the power to arrest users in special circumstances, such as 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 move as "liberalisation", with shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin declaring the government's drug policy a "dreadful muddle". '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 reclassification 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. At the moment, about 80,000 people are arrested and fined for cannabis possession every year. After a change in rules, anyone caught in possession of cannabis will only receive a warning and will have the drug 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. She 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:MPs Vote To Downgrade Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17691.shtmlMPs Set for Cannabis Clash http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17688.shtmlCannabis Reform Takes Step Closer http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17687.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 19, 2003 at 09:58:34 PT News Article from The BBC UK Cigarette Papers Advert Banned Wednesday, November 19, 2003 An advertisement for cigarette papers has been banned because it could be seen as condoning the smoking of cannabis. The advert featured the words "twist and burn" and a packet of Rizla papers with a turn at one end. The Advertising Standards Authority said this phrase could be understood to refer to smoking a cannabis cigarette. The manufacturers, Imperial Tobacco, were told not to repeat the promotion, which a rival had complained about. The ASA carried out an investigation and found that, in some dictionaries, "twist" was a slang term for a cannabis cigarette and "burn" could be a reference to smoking one. 'Burning rubber' It added that it understood cannabis cigarettes were normally fatter than those filled with tobacco and twisted at one end to prevent the contents falling out. Imperial Tobacco, said "twist and burn" was a phrase commonly used by motorcyclists and meant turning the bike's throttle and "burning rubber" along a road. The company said it was aware "a minority" used Rizlas with soft drugs, and it "did not condone that use". The watchdog concluded the wording in the advert and the twisted packet "were likely to be seen by many readers as an allusion to the culture of cannabis use". It accepted the advert had been approved by the advertising industry's vetting body but told Imperial Tobacco not to use the same promotion in the future. URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3282323.stm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 29, 2003 at 14:55:13 PT News Brief from United Press International Pot Smoking To Be 'Less' Illegal in U.K.LONDON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Britain's Parliament voted Wednesday to lessen the penalties for marijuana smoking, the BBC reported.Under the change, to take effect in January, penalties will be lessened and become comparable to those facing illegal use of tranquilizers and steroids.Convicted marijuana dealers, however, could still face sentences of up to 14 years.The reclassification of the drug to Class C from Class B was supported by a majority of 156, despite Tory warnings it would lead more young people into harder drug use.Junior Home Office minister Caroline Flint rejected claims that cannabis would become "semi-legal," claiming the move was part of an "honest and credible" strategy to tackle the wider drug problem.Britain's Police Federation, which represents 130,000 police officers, is also against downgrading the drug. John Barry, federation chairman, said the reclassification sent out "a confusing and conflicting message," especially to young people. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment