Herb Fellow
New Member
A decision on the possible reclassification of cannabis to a class B drug is expected today. The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is expected to go against the advice of the independent expert body The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which is understood to want to keep it a Class C drug. Last week Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the Government needed to issue a warning to young people of the dangers of using cannabis.
In February, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recommended cannabis reclassification to the ACMD. Simon Byrne, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and ACPO lead on policing cannabis said: "The world has changed markedly since cannabis was classified as a Class C drug four years ago. The two main changes we see are a rise in cannabis farms and an undercurrent in the market which suggest more harmful health effects. Restoring cannabis to a Class B would reinforce the message to the public and to criminals that tough action will be taken to deal with criminality." However, a ACPO spokesman told the Guardian Newspaper last week that chief constables do not want to "criminalise young people who are experimenting".
If the decision is made to reclassify cannabis it could prove controversial, as it will mean overruling the Governments own expert panel.
Under The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, ministers are legally required to consult the ACMD before any changes to legislation are made. The council has not been overruled for 30 years. The ACMD in their report which will be published later, are asking for stricter penalties for dealing in schools, mental health hospitals and prisons.
Deborah Cameron from Addaction, a leading specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity, says that changing the classification of cannabis will not deter people from smoking it. It is understood that the Tories want Cannabis to be Class B while the Lib Dems want the Government to take advice from experts.
Mr Brown is said to be concerned about the growing use of 'skunk cannabis' that is a more dangerous form of the drug.
Cannabis was originally downgraded from a Class B to Class C drug by former Home Secretary David Blunkett to give police more of a chance to tackle 'hard' drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Source: 4NI - Northern Ireland On The Internet (News and Web Directory)
Copyright: 2008, 4NI - Northern Ireland On The Internet (News and Web Directory)
Contact: 4NI - Northern Ireland On The Internet (News and Web Directory)
Website: UK National News - Decision On Cannabis Reclassificaition Expected
In February, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recommended cannabis reclassification to the ACMD. Simon Byrne, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and ACPO lead on policing cannabis said: "The world has changed markedly since cannabis was classified as a Class C drug four years ago. The two main changes we see are a rise in cannabis farms and an undercurrent in the market which suggest more harmful health effects. Restoring cannabis to a Class B would reinforce the message to the public and to criminals that tough action will be taken to deal with criminality." However, a ACPO spokesman told the Guardian Newspaper last week that chief constables do not want to "criminalise young people who are experimenting".
If the decision is made to reclassify cannabis it could prove controversial, as it will mean overruling the Governments own expert panel.
Under The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, ministers are legally required to consult the ACMD before any changes to legislation are made. The council has not been overruled for 30 years. The ACMD in their report which will be published later, are asking for stricter penalties for dealing in schools, mental health hospitals and prisons.
Deborah Cameron from Addaction, a leading specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity, says that changing the classification of cannabis will not deter people from smoking it. It is understood that the Tories want Cannabis to be Class B while the Lib Dems want the Government to take advice from experts.
Mr Brown is said to be concerned about the growing use of 'skunk cannabis' that is a more dangerous form of the drug.
Cannabis was originally downgraded from a Class B to Class C drug by former Home Secretary David Blunkett to give police more of a chance to tackle 'hard' drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Source: 4NI - Northern Ireland On The Internet (News and Web Directory)
Copyright: 2008, 4NI - Northern Ireland On The Internet (News and Web Directory)
Contact: 4NI - Northern Ireland On The Internet (News and Web Directory)
Website: UK National News - Decision On Cannabis Reclassificaition Expected