Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2002
Source: Wichita Eagle (KS)
Copyright: 2002 The Wichita Eagle
Contact:  http://www.wichitaeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/680
Author: Gregory Katz, Dallas Morning News

BRITAIN TO RELAX LAWS REGARDING USE OF MARIJUANA

Instead Of Being Arrested And Facing Prison Time, Pot Smokers Will Be 
Subject To Modest Fines

LONDON - In a major relaxation of drug laws, Prime Minister Tony Blair's 
government announced Wednesday that marijuana laws would be eased so that 
people who use small quantities of the drug will not face arrest.

The controversial reclassification of marijuana from a Class B to a Class C 
drug will take effect next July, British Home Secretary David Blunkett said.

Blunkett said the new law stopped short of decriminalization of marijuana 
but would allow police to focus on hard drug users and dealers.

"The message to young people and families must be open, honest and 
believable," he told Parliament. "Cannabis is a potentially harmful drug 
and should remain illegal. However, it is not comparable with crack, heroin 
and ecstasy."

Blunkett, who announced last year that he intended to make this change, 
said marijuana should not be classified in the same way as drugs that kill.

In Britain, possession of a Class B drug carries a maximum penalty of five 
years in jail.

Possession of a Class C drug carries a maximum sentence of two years, but 
the Home Office said that penalty was rarely invoked for first-time 
offenders, who normally receive only a ticket.

Instead of being arrested and possibly put in prison, marijuana users would 
face modest fines or other penalties, officials said.

The change in emphasis puts Britain in the forefront of a European movement 
toward easing penalties for marijuana use.

The British proposal to reduce penalties for marijuana has received strong 
support from police chiefs and police associations.
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