Pubdate: Sat, 09 Sep 2006
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Author: John Steele, Crime Correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

JPs' CANNABIS FEARS

Magistrates in youth courts, who are concerned that young people are
increasingly hooked on cannabis and turning to crime to fund their
habits, are trying to pressure the Government to re-instate it as a
Class B drug for juveniles.

A motion to urge the Government to reverse its downgrading of cannabis
to a Class C drug, in the case of under-18s, will be debated at the
annual meeting of representatives of 28,000 magistrates in England and
Wales, in November.

An indication of concern among magistrates is that the association's
Board of Trustees, its governing body, has agreed the motion should be
on the agenda.

advertisement The Home Office changed cannabis from Class B to Class C
two years ago to free up police time spent on prosecuting possession
cases so officers could concentrate on heroin and cocaine.

However, there have been concerns that the move sent the wrong message
to youngsters, effectively suggesting it was no longer illegal to
possess cannabis.
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MAP posted-by: Derek