cannabisnews.com: Blunkett's Softer Line on Cannabis 'Not Enough'





Blunkett's Softer Line on Cannabis 'Not Enough'
Posted by CN Staff on January 25, 2004 at 19:16:16 PT
By Sean O'Neill
Source: Daily Telegraph 
David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, should go further than this week's legal downgrading of cannabis and decriminalise or legalise the drug, according to a survey for The Telegraph.More than 50 per cent of those questioned believed the sale and possession of cannabis - to be downgraded from a Class B drug to Class C on Thursday - should no longer be a criminal offence.
The YouGov survey found 28 per cent favoured decriminalising the drug, making it a minor offence, while 23 per cent wanted full legalisation.Despite rising concern about links between cannabis and mental illness, only 43 per cent believed selling or possessing the drug should remain a criminal offence.The survey of more than 2,500 people was one of the largest polls on public attitudes to drugs.A majority of those questioned - 52 per cent - expressed approval of the Home Secretary's decision to reclassify cannabis.The survey revealed, however, that 44 per cent of people regard cannabis as "seriously addictive". But almost a third said alcohol was a greater problem in society than drugs.Prof John Henry of Imperial College, a leading drugs expert, said the survey appeared to betray a lack of awareness about the adverse health effects of cannabis and its role as a "gateway" drug."There would not be a drugs problem if people did not start on drugs, but the Government seems to be saying to young people 'Hey, it's OK to try this drug'," he said."This is a dangerous time to be relaxing the law. Cannabis is a relatively new drug, there are more users and it is getting stronger. But we don't have enough experience or data to know what the long-term effects are. There are heart and lung problems similar to those created by tobacco and there is a definite link with schizophrenia."At a time when tobacco smoking is being clamped down on, it seems contradictory to be lifting the lid off cannabis."Addaction, the drug treatment charity, said the poll reflected "a shift in understanding" to supporting a proportionate response to different drugs.Rosie Brocklehurst, a spokesman for Addaction, said she was worried about "confusing messages" coming from different police forces about enforcement of the new cannabis law."The majority of people seem to understand why cannabis should be reclassified," she said. "Many have had the experience of how damaging the postcode lottery in enforcement has been. Young peoples' lives are blighted for ever when they are forced into the criminal justice system and through it some are coerced into a harder drug culture."Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)Author: Sean O'NeillPublished: January 26, 2004Copyright: 2004 Telegraph Group LimitedContact: dtletters telegraph.co.ukWebsite: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/Related Articles:1 in 4 Believe Sale of Cannabis Should Be Legalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18217.shtmlEnd The Confusion Over Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18159.shtml Home-Grown Cannabis is Lesser Crime http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15951.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by Nuevo Mexican on January 26, 2004 at 10:05:36 PT
This article is GREAT NEWS!
In case you didn't read the article, this is fantastic!The British thankfully have their senses when it comes to Cannabis prohibition, now if we can educate 'duh masses' or 'dum asses' (LOL) in America, including tokers who don't vote, (if your one of them, go register to vote now, don't give us your lame excuses, (picture George Bushsaying: 'I don't have to vote, the election is rigged, due to 50% of the voters not voting, guaranteeing a close vote, the 'easy to rig' scenario. NOt voting makes it a 'slam dunk' for me and daddys' CIA, so please don't vote!) David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, should go further than this week's legal downgrading of cannabis and decriminalise or legalise the drug, according to a survey for The Telegraph.
More than 50 per cent of those questioned believed the sale and possession of cannabis - to be downgraded from a Class B drug to Class C on Thursday - should no longer be a criminal offence. The YouGov survey found 28 per cent favoured decriminalising the drug, making it a minor offence, while 23 per cent wanted full legalisation.Despite rising concern about links between cannabis and mental illness, only 43 per cent believed selling or possessing the drug should remain a criminal offence.The survey of more than 2,500 people was one of the largest polls on public attitudes to drugs.A majority of those questioned - 52 per cent - expressed approval of the Home Secretary's decision to reclassify cannabis.note: When our government makes our former oppresser, Britain, look benevolent, you know something is amiss!
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on January 26, 2004 at 07:04:50 PT
Off topic a little ...On TV tonight
This is a little off topic, but... the USA network mini series "Traffic " starts tonight. The local newspaper reviewer thought it was good. That remainds to be seen as far as I am concerned. I think it has too many cross current sub-plots thought. No matter how they try to play up the Drug War, it will still come across as the failure that it is. Such as, after all of these decades and all these billions of dollars spent, why is drug use still so popular and growing. Why, even big time "drug free" conservative talk radio personalities do it. 
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Comment #4 posted by mayan on January 25, 2004 at 23:22:57 PT
"Drugs Expert"
"Cannabis is a relatively new drug, there are more users and it is getting stronger."Isn't that statement just unreal, Virgil? Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands and thousands of years. There are more users? Well, yes, there are more people! It is getting stronger? Not really. There may be new hybrids but they come from the same seed-stock that nature has provided for millenia. This man is a "leading drugs expert"? Sure. The way out is the way in..."The Elephant in the Living Room": Evidence of 9/11 Government Deception 
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=41&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Whistleblower Coming In Cold From the F.B.I
http://www.observer.com/pages/frontpage1.aspGerman trial hears how Iranian agent warned US of impending al-Qaida attack:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1130331,00.html9/11 Widow Suing Bush to Speak in Kansas City!
http://www.septembereleventh.org/kc/index.php
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Comment #3 posted by Virgil on January 25, 2004 at 20:34:13 PT
A new level of unbelievable
Cannabis is a relatively new drugTotally, uneffingbelievable. They have serious problems in the UK because of the soapbar that dominates the market. I think that is fast changing as people know the laws are unfair and violate their rights as human beings. Now if you want a conspiracy theory here is one. The soapbar will not half burn and is so foul that it takes tobacco to make it useable. The tobacco companies fixed it so that soapbar was the only supply to the UK so that it would get people hooked on tobacco.The idea of vaporizers for tobacco use will grow as the debate goes on. Notice how vaporizers are a taboo on reporting on what few cannabis stories there are. They want to keep it secret because a lot of people would change delivery systems just because of cost savings of using bulk tobacco. This would have an immediate impact on cigarette sales and could lead people to an escape of the tobacco habit.There were some protest last summer in London for Biz Ivol who lives in Ireland. Now if you think the people in the UK are not going to protest from now until regulation for themselves, I would think it a mistaken belief.I think Chris Baldwin ran the Worthing's coffeeshop and went to jail for a maximum of 3 months. Now there will be some protest on Wednesday or Thursday or both. On guy wanted to protest on the steps of Parliament this weekend http://www.hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=339 Chris Baldwins mother Dorothy Baldwin, aged 81 said "My son has helped hundreds of people who are sick, we need to be strong for Chris, so I would ask anyone who knows him to come and show their support of my son" If the protest falls on deaf ears, the protesters plan to be back on Wednesday 28th January and again spend a night homeless before spending Thursday 29th January protesting at the Home Office. I say that because motherhood has its bonds. The young people might have the energy to protest on and on, but I can see the day when all the moms turn out. It is on until it is over.BS's for today-Vaporize and Vaporize Prohibition 
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Comment #2 posted by BGreen on January 25, 2004 at 20:22:39 PT
Prof John Henry of Imperial College
Blah, blah, blah.(Yawn)The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #1 posted by breeze on January 25, 2004 at 20:01:55 PT
Okay- who did they POLL?
Only 1/3 of the poll believed that alcohol was more addictive/sociological problem than alcohol. Who did these people ask, only people living in nursing homes? Kindergarten class? Church? The kids down at the deaf,dumb, and blind university?I assume that this poll was in England. Maybe they don't have a problem with DUI's like in the states.Man- I hate polls. And propaganda. And the stupidity of people who believe polls and propaganda as fact based reliabile venues for knowledge!
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