UK Cannabis Law Changes Are "Madness"

British government plans to downgrade cannabis to a class C drug (effectively tolerating possession) while increasing penalties for dealing up to 14 years, has been condemned as "madness" by leading commentator Simon Jenkins.

"Cannabis is mostly supplied by small domestic and continental growers," said the former editor of The Times (writing in the same newspaper).

"Mr Blunkett's decision to double the penalty for cannabis supply puts it on a par with aggravated rape and manslaughter. Since almost all users are sometime suppliers, this change is madness."

And while almost all of Britain's estimated 5million smokers will be at risk of receiving 14 year sentences, the professional, profit making dealers could stop selling cannabis altogether, Mr Jenkins suggested, though with much more serious consequences.

"Dealers will be more likely to push heroin than cannabis to equate profit more closely to risk. Likewise under Prohibition, it made more sense to trade in whisky than beer. By banning heroin clinics and seeking to equate cannabis and heroin distribution, Mr Blunkett is taking a reckless risk with the nation's youth," he said.

The new laws are due to come into force in Autumn across London and the rest of the country by September 2003.
Tags