Pubdate: Wed, 21 Mar 2007
Source: Evening Standard (London, UK)
Copyright: 2007 Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/914
Author: Ed Harris
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

POLICE CHIEF SAYS CANNABIS LAW LEGITIMISES DRUG USE

One of the country's most senior police officers has broken ranks 
over the classification of cannabis following a series of 
high-profile drug-induced murders.

Merseyside's chief constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe, has slammed the 
Government's softly-softly approach and called for a U-turn on the 
Class C status of the drug.

The call comes a day after cannabis addict Thomas Palmer was jailed 
for life by Reading Crown Court for murdering two friends in a 
drug-induced state.

Palmer, 20, who will serve a minimum 20 years in jail for the 
killings near Wokingham in 2005, first tried cannabis at the age of 
14 and was smoking the drug every day by the time he turned 15.

Mr Hogan-Howe said: "While tackling Class A drugs is a priority for 
forces across the country, this reclassification of cannabis has 
almost legitimised it in the public perception. But cannabis is not 
legitimate, it remains illegal and its cultivation is a serious 
criminal offence." Citing recent research, Mr Hogan-Howe said that 
the increasing strength of the drug was leading to "high incidence" 
of schizophrenia.

"Cannabis is not the harmless substance some people believe it to be. 
This new super-strength cannabis is creating problems now.

"The legacy of people taking this drug today could well be felt for 
generations to come," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman