UK scientists decry moves to toughen cannabis laws

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UK scientists decry moves to toughen cannabis laws

25 November 2008

International Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/25/...in-Cannabis.php

 

LONDON: A group of senior British scientists has condemned the government's push to toughen the penalties for possessing marijuana, saying in a letter published Tuesday the move ignores scientific evidence.

 

Britain's House of Lords voted to reclassifying the drug Tuesday, and the House of Commons, Britain's powerful lower house, already approved the measure earlier this month and the Lords' vote is seen as a formality.

 

The Home Office said it expected the change to come into effect in January.

 

In Britain, drugs are classified into three different categories with "Class A" the most dangerous. Marijuana is currently classified as a "Class C" drug and the change will upgrade it to "Class B" — something the government argues is necessary in part because of the increasing potency of some cannabis varieties.

 

The change would reverse the relaxation of British cannabis laws in 2004 and ignore the recommendations of a government drug advisory council.

 

In a letter published in The Guardian newspaper, 10 scientists said the reclassification could be "very damaging" because it sends a confusing message to the public about the true dangers of other "Class B" drugs.

 

The letter's signatories include Michael Rawlins, former head of the advisory council, and two former chief scientific advisers to the government, David King and Robert May.

 

"Cannabis use has fallen in recent years, especially following the downgrading to Class C in 2004, and its obviously unwise to risk reversing that trend," the letter said. It said reclassification "would send out an ambiguous message about the dangers of current Class B drugs."

 

Marijuana would join amphetamines, Ritalin and pholcodine as "Class B" drugs whose unlawful possession could result in up to five years in prison.

 

Marijuana possession is currently punishable by up to two years in prison, although users aren't typically arrested or prosecuted until after their third offense.

 

The Home Office has said it wants to send a message to marijuana users that possessing the drug is a serious crime. It said the evidence about the risks of marijuana use was more uncertain now than it had been in the past.

 

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On the Net:

 

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drugs-law/Class-a-b-c/

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