Pubdate: Thu, 8 May 2008
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454
Author: Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
Referenced: Advisory Council report 'Cannabis: Classification and 
Public Health' http://drugsense.org/url/HbPeg6QZ
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CANNABIS GOES BACK TO CLASS B DESPITE DRUG EXPERTS' VERDICT

Cannabis will be upgraded to a Class B drug next year even though the 
head of the Government's advisory body says that the change is 
neither warranted nor likely to achieve the desired effect.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, announced the reversal yesterday of 
the Government's earlier decision to downgrade the drug. But under18s 
caught with it will not be treated any more harshly, to avoid 
criminalising them.

Punishment for the over18s will increase from the existing 
"confiscate and warning" for a first offence to a possible penalty 
notice for disorder on a second offence followed by arrest and 
prosecution for a third offence.

Although the new jail term for possession rises from two to five 
years, it is unlikely that anyone will be imprisoned for simple 
possession of cannabis for personal use. But extra years are to be 
added to jail sentences handed out to those caught dealing in 
hospitals, schools, universities and prisons.

The tougher punishments are to be introduced after the Advisory 
Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the Government's official body, was 
told of patients in psychiatric hospitals ordering drugs by telephone 
and having them delivered within 15 minutes.

Reclassification will not take effect until early next year because 
Parliament has to approve the decision.

A report from the advisory council concluded that the health dangers 
from cannabis did not justify its inclusion in the higher category 
and that it should remain a Class C drug. Professor Sir Michael 
Rawlins, chairman of the council, said: "Changing the classification 
of cannabis is neither warranted nor will it achieve the desired effect."

The report said that scientific evidence pointed to a "probable, but 
weak, causal link between psychotic illness, including schizophrenia, 
and cannabis use". However, it added that in the population as a 
whole, the drug played only a "modest role" in the development of 
these conditions.

Ms Smith said that the Government was overruling the council because 
she was unwilling to "risk the future health of young people". She 
told MPs: "Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt 
about the harm that will be caused, we must err on the side of 
caution and protect the public. I make no apology for that - I am not 
prepared to wait and see."

The Home Secretary said she was concerned about the mental health 
effects of smoking super-strength skunk cannabis, which now accounts 
for 81 per cent of cannabis seized on the streets. There were also 
suggestions that young people were "binge smoking" to get the maximum high.

Ms Smith accepted the remaining 20 recommendations from the advisory 
council, including a concerted public health campaign to reduce the 
widespread use of cannabis, a renewed focus on preventing youngsters 
starting to use the drug and clear advice for parents on what to do 
if their children are found with an illegal drug.

The council's report also called for curbs on shops that sell 
cannabis paraphernalia, such as pipes.

Sir Michael said that the Government was free to accept or reject 
expert advice. "It really has to be tackled as a public health 
problem not a criminal justice problem. This is not a criticism of 
the Prime Minister and Home Secretary. All politicans tend to think 
there must be a criminal justice solution to it. It is more 
complicated and subtle that that." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake