Cannabis laws to be strengthened

[Detomah]

Latest cannabis ruling hitting the news:

BBC NEWS | Politics | Cannabis laws to be strengthened

Cannabis is to be reclassified as a class B drug, Jacqui Smith has said.

The home secretary said she wanted to reverse Tony Blair's 2004 downgrading of the drug because of "uncertainty" over its impact on mental health.

The move from class C means the maximum prison sentence for possessing cannabis rises from two years to five years.

Her statement to MPs came despite the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' review - commissioned by Gordon Brown - saying it should stay class C.

'Psychotic illness'

Since cannabis was downgraded there has been widespread concern about the increased prevalence of stronger "skunk" varieties.

Ms Smith said this now accounted for 80% of the cannabis seized on the streets and the drug was nearly three times stronger than in 1995.

SKUNK
So-called because it has a very strong smell
Three times stronger than other types of cannabis
Contains much higher levels of the active ingredient - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Now accounts for between 70 and 80% of samples seized by police
Six years ago it accounted for 15% of samples

She added that the government's change of heart - which is subject to parliamentary approval - was part of a "relentless drive".

Ms Smith, who has admitted smoking cannabis while she was a student, told MPs: "There is a compelling case for us to act now, rather than risk the future health of young people.

"Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt about the potential harm that will be caused, we must err on the side of caution and protect the public.

"I make no apology for that - I am not prepared to 'wait and see'."

In its report, Cannabis: Classification And Public Health, the advisory council described cannabis as a "significant public health issue".

But it said it should still remain a class C drug, as the risks were not as serious as those of class B substances, such as amphetamines and barbiturates.


The report said the evidence suggested a "probable, but weak, causal link between psychotic illness, including schizophrenia, and cannabis use".

However, in the population as a whole, it played only a "modest role" in the development of these conditions.

Council chairman Sir Michael Rawlings told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "The strength of things like skunk hasn't really changed very much over the last few years but it's now more widely used... The question of potency is a very complex area."

Campaign
The advisory council did not look at the message conveyed to the public or the impact on policing, which it is not legally obliged to do.

Sir Michael added: "The government may want to take other matters into account. That's their right. They are the government."

In its report the council called for a campaign to reduce the use of cannabis, particularly focusing on young people.


Penalties for drug offences
It also voiced concern over the prevalence of domestic cannabis farms supplying the market and the involvement of organised criminal networks.

Ms Smith said she accepted the vast majority of the council's recommendations, but not the classification of the drug.

And Gordon Brown said at prime minister's questions that he believed making cannabis a class B drug was supported by the public and the police.

Last month he said he wanted to "send a message" to young people that using the substance was "unacceptable".

Class C includes substances such as tranquilisers, some painkillers, GHB (so-called "liquid ecstasy") and ketamine. Possession of class C drugs is treated largely as a non-arrestable offence.

Chief Constable Tim Hollis, a leader on drugs for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said he and his colleagues from other police forces would not want to take an uniform approach on the issue.

He said: "Our forces will want to retain discretion on how we deal with the problem because they will want to relate it to local circumstances."

Shadow home secretary David Davis said that the government's reversal of its earlier decision showed the downgrading of cannabis had been a mistake and accused ministers of "dithering".

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said that, as its advice had been disregarded, ministers should disband the advisory council of experts and replace it with an advisory council of "tabloid newspaper editors".

Labour MP Chris Mullin, who was chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee when it recommended that cannabis was downgraded to class C, said: "The government should follow the advice of the experts rather than that of the tabloids."

But Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, welcomed Ms Smith's decision, adding: "We believe there are too many casualties to await the results of further education and research."

However, Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "There is no evidence that reclassifying cannabis to Class B will reduce levels of use, levels of harm or the availability of the drug."

PENALTIES FOR DRUG DEALING AND POSSESSION
Class A Ecstasy, LSD, heroin, cocaine, crack, magic mushrooms, amphetamines (if prepared for injection).
Up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Up to life in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Class B Amphetamines, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Pholcodine.
Up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Class C Cannabis, tranquilisers, some painkillers, Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Ketamine.
Up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both,

Ok, i'm anti drugs and often say the laws should be far stricter, but even I find this a rediculous ruling as a whole and that it really isn't going to help this countries hard drug problems at all. To me it just makes me want Brown out more than ever. It's not the answer and it's been poorly thought out and the worst of all is that all Browns experts told him that it shouldn't be reclassified and he's completely ignored them all.

So what do you think? Is it right or wrong?

[Eraserhead]

Possibly over complicating things but if the concern is the pure strength of skunk causing mental health problems maybe they should split the classification of skunk and other less potent varieties, making strong types such as skunk class b and weaker stuff class c.

[emma roids]

im am very anti drugs, that sounds like a contradiction cos i smoked vast amounts of cannabis in my yoof but i don't consider cannabis to be a hard drug in fact folks who are stoned on weed are very funny.

so make blow legal cos it does less harm to folks than drink does (as far as i know) and drink is very legal.
in fact they should tax it and have places to go and do it like Amsterdam.

[Puratech]

Theyd ban alcohol too if it would cause more shit than Rodney King.

[Dawolf]

Originally Posted by emma roids

im am very anti drugs, that sounds like a contradiction cos i smoked vast amounts of cannabis in my yoof but i don't consider cannabis to be a hard drug in fact folks who are stoned on weed are very funny.

so make blow legal cos it does less harm to folks than drink does (as far as i know) and drink is very legal.
in fact they should tax it and have places to go and do it like Amsterdam.

Cannabis may not be a hard Drug, however don't let that fool you into thinking its safe..Its not safe, its far worse than alcohol. Alcohol its totally safe used in moderation cannabis used in moderation to be safe would have no effect so would be pointless taking it.

Just ask your self do you want your children smoking ? do you want your children smoking & adding Cannabis.

It was a big mistake you lower its classification in the first place.

[Seth]

To be fair, I don't believe most of the spiel that gets thrown at me about drugs anymore. There was a time when I was younger when I'd quite happily listen to people and agree with the entire "omgzors, drugs are bad" and whatnot.

But now, I don't think there's enough actual viable evidence either way. The Government don't want us smoking it 'cause "it's bad", the people arguing for it's legalisation are mostly those already smoking it and a lot of the information out there is probably tainted by one side or the other...

I agree with Eraserhead though, splitting cannabis across several groups might be the best option...

[Laz]

Smoking pot is worse than smoking tobacco, and I'd ban both if I could.

I like people who get silly when high or drunk, but it's not worth the cost. I almost slapped a friend when I found out he drove many miles very drunk, and woke up in a ditch. Alive and scared sober, but still stupid.

[draganess]

Its like anything, maybe every now and then use has no effects but its spiraled out of controle. I dont smoke anything let alone the wacky stuff but it also dosent bother me what other people smoke TILL they complain thier kids do it and say 'I cant understand why they take drugs'

[Mankind]

Originally Posted by Dawolf

ts not safe, its far worse than alcohol. Alcohol its totally safe used in moderation cannabis used in moderation to be safe would have no effect so would be pointless taking it.

lol, bollocks, what makes you think cannabis in moderation has no effect?

If alcohol was discovered today it would be Class A.

[dmgirl]

I don't really care what they do with it as long as they make up their minds.
No wonder people don't know what is going on with drugs when the government, who make up all the rules, don't even know themselves.

[Dawolf]

Originally Posted by Mankind

lol, bollocks, what makes you think cannabis in moderation has no effect?

If alcohol was discovered today it would be Class A.

I don't think I know for a fact, yes from personal experience as a young man & from seeing others. It would seem not only can you be bad mannered you can talk drivel some times.

No way would alcohol be class A, in moderation its totally harmless, unlike cannabis or cigarettes.