Pubdate: Sun, 13 Mar 2005
Source: Observer, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 The Observer
Contact:  http://www.observer.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/315
Author: Jason Burke, The Observer
Cited: International Narcotics Control Board http://www.incb.org/
Cited: Transform http://www.tdpf.org.uk/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

UN CONDEMNS UK CANNABIS LAWS

The government's relaxation of the law on cannabis use was attacked by
the United Nations last night.

Koli Kouame, secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB), the UN agency dedicated to monitoring legal regimes of member
states, said the downgrading of cannabis from Class B to C could send
the wrong signal and damage the global fight against drug abuse.

'Whenever a government gives a sign which can be interpreted as
indicating that a lower danger is associated with the use of a drug,
that can cause problems,' said Kouame. 'It is too early to judge the
impact [of the downgrading], but often the signal sent is as important
as the act itself.'

His comments came days after Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, hinted
that the reclassification of cannabis, under which users are only
given a warning unless there are 'aggravating factors', might have to
be reconsidered.

Straw broke ranks last week by dropping a heavy hint that there should
be a review of the downgrading of the drug. 'It was done for good
reasons, but we may need to review it in the light of experience,' he
said.

His words fuelled speculation that the government is still divided
over the much-criticised decision. However, the Home Office denied
there were any moves to reverse the change, which went through in
January last year. But concern has grown after findings suggested
smoking it frequently can cause serious mental health problems.

Cannabis is the third most popular drug after alcohol and tobacco in
the UK, where 40 per cent of 15-year-olds are believed to have used
it. Possession can lead to two years in jail, with a maximum of 14
years for dealing.

Danny Kushlick, of Transform, a drugs policy campaign group, said
that, though flawed, the reclassification recognised that cannabis was
less harmful than street cocaine or heroin and that the INCB was
living in the past: 'We are talking about a legal framework that dates
back to the 1950s. There is a culture clash with the reality of the
21st century.'

The UK also came in for criticism from INCB president Hamid Ghodse,
who warned in the agency's annual report that the UK had the largest
rate of heroin seizures and the third-highest number of addicts in
Europe in 2004. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake