roadrunner Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 from:http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001370532,00.htmlCannabis smokers will not be arrestedBY RICHARD FORD, HOME CORRESPONDENTCANNABIS will be reclassified so that possession of the drug is no longer an arrestable offence, David Blunkett announced yesterday, in the first relaxation of British drug laws in 30 years. In the surprise announcement the Home Secretary said that drug laws had to be credible, particularly to young people. He said that cannabis would be moved from a Class B drug to a Class C drug, putting it in the same category as anti-depressants and steroids. Mr Blunkett denied that the move, which in practice will mean that cannabis smokers are unlikely to be prosecuted if caught with small amounts of the drug, was decriminalisation by another name.The maximum sentence for possession will, however, be cut from five to two years and the term for dealing in cannabis from 14 to five. Police will no longer have the power to arrest a person found in possession of the drug. They will, however, still be able to carry out stop and searches for it. Mr Blunkett also indicated that he expected to approve the medicinal use of cannabis and wanted more doctors to prescribe heroin as a way of bringing addicts into the healthcare system. The reclassification decision is in line with the recommendation of an inquiry last year that was headed by Viscountess Runciman of Doxford. She said last night: “It is a very sensible and welcome move by the Home Secretary. It will make the law much more credible.†Mr Blunkett’s decision is intended to free police time to allow them to concentrate on hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine, which are at heart of the Government’s anti- drugs strategy. He insisted: “I am not either legalising or decriminalising cannabisâ€. He told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee: “Re-classification would be quite different from decriminalisation or legalisation. Cannabis would remain a controlled drug and using it a criminal offenceâ€. Mr Blunkett conceded that the operation of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act lagged far behind the public’s attitudes towards cannabis and that keeping it just one class below heroin and cocaine was not sustainable. He will put his proposal to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which is expected to back the reclassification by next spring. In the 1980s the council voted by a majority in favour of reclassification but no action was taken. Mr Blunkett’s move was welcomed by Labour MPs, the head of the Metropolitan Police and drugcharities. Sir John Stevens, Metropolitan Police Commissioner said: “While cannabis would remain an illegal drug the measures announced by the Home Secretary reflect the growing reality that law enforcers must target the scourge of hard drugs.†Chief constables are concerned at the prospect of losing the power to arrest some one for possession. The Home Office is to hold discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the issue. Paul Flynn, a Labour MP who has campaigned for drugs reform, said: “This is a wonderful, sensible first step. We congratulate the Government for having the courage to do this. Very few people will now be prosecuted for cannabis possession as a result of this. It’s the equivalent of giving the police and the courts millions of pounds in extra resources.†Roger Howard, of the charity DrugScope, said: “It is very encouraging to have someone in office who is willing to engage in open debate on this issue and then to act.†Oliver Letwin, Shadow Home Secretary, said that his party would consider the issue in an ongoing policy review.Now if our own country would just wisen up a little... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echostar Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 ok im packin up my bags and moving out...hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassa Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 I wish they'd do that here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClubManiac Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Hopefully the USA is next so we can concentrate more on ridding the country of Heroin. I thought I heard something about Heroin coming from Afghanistan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgym Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 (Fingers crossed)seeing that Britain is our close compadre in the global system, i like the chances of these laws sweeping on over the AtlanticEspec here in NYC, with the old rockafeller laws in effect, these changes can only help make the U.S. gov't end the current drug war and pass me the pipe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcoleo Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 You guys can be sure that America will be next, as soon as this whole Afghanistan thing ends. Most likely, something like this will indeed happen since every single thing the United States does is usually in direct correlation or as a result of something the Brits did earlier...For example, the country was founded on Britain's ideas from the beginning (Haebus Corpus for example). Every custom and tradition arrived from Britain. Take the club scene or modern techno, trance, or house music. Hell, they even send us Prodigy, which lasted a little while! I for one love it that the Mother Country will be giving us something beneficial!Sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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