Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jan 2008
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Author: Andrew Porter, Political Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

GORDON BROWN'S TOUGH STANCE ON CANNABIS

Cannabis is expected to be reclassified as a class B drug as part of 
Gordon Brown's drive to show Labour's softer line on some drug use is 
over, it was reported.

This will mean people found in possession of the drug could face a 
five-year jail term and an unlimited fine.

The Prime Minister signalled in July his intention to reverse the 
former home secretary David Blunkett's decision to reclassify 
cannabis as a class C drug in 2001 - a decision that came into force 
three years later.

He ordered a review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 
and let it be known he wanted a toughening of the drugs laws.

That move by Mr Blunkett was condemned by many and was seen as tacit 
approval of some "soft" drug use. And medical studies have continued 
to link cannabis with mental health problems, a key reason for 
reclassification.

Whitehall sources have confirmed even if the advisory council's study 
does not give him full support, he is likely to instruct Jacqui 
Smith, the Home Secretary, to override the recommendation and go 
ahead with reclassification to class B.

Miss Smith is not due to receive the report until March.

Mr Brown's surprise announcement of a review was one of several 
attempts to reverse parts of the agenda pursued by Tony Blair.

He also scrapped plans for a controversial super-casino - at a stroke 
stopping dead planned resort casinos in Britain.

The advisory council ruled out a previous attempt to reclassify 
cannabis in 2006 ordered by then home secretary Charles Clarke.

But Miss Smith has ensured this time the review body takes into 
account public attitudes to cannabis. And whereas Mr Clarke was happy 
to act on the advice of the council, Miss Smith is expected to frown 
on any findings that do not back up renewed concerns about the 
seriousness of cannabis abuse.

In her letter to Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, the chairman of the 
council, requesting a further review of evidence, Miss Smith said: 
"Though statistics show cannabis use has fallen significantly, there 
is real public concern about the potential mental health effects of 
cannabis use, in particular the use of stronger forms of the drug, 
commonly known as skunk.

"This is in addition to the longitudinal studies undertaken in New 
Zealand and the Netherlands that link cannabis use to mental health problems."

Mr Brown said in July: "It is the message you send out. Why I want to 
upgrade cannabis and make it more a drug that people worry about is 
that we don't want to send out a message, just like with alcohol, to 
teenagers that we accept these things."

Last night a Home Office spokesman said: "This is pure speculation.

"We are awaiting the outcome of the review by the advisory council, 
which hasn't been completed yet."

The Home Secretary is also likely to reject any suggestions that 
there should be different levels of cannabis offence depending on the 
strength of the substance. 
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