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Cannabis OK (ish) In the UK From January

Author: Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)
Saturday, September 20, 2003
British authorities confirmed this week that cannabis will be downgraded from Class B to Class C next January, meaning people caught with personal supplies should no longer face arrest.

However, the new police guidelines accompanying the reclassification were left deliberately vague, the Standard reported, meaning that the implicit official attitude towards the drug remains 'don't get caught'.

Britain's miniscule though significant relaxation of her drug laws contrasted sharply with attitudes in Central African country Uganda this week, where leading newspaper The Monitor lent its support to a new US-style bill tightening anti-cannabis restrictions.

"Smoking marijuana is not only criminal but also contributes to commission of other crimes," the Nation stormed.

"Crimes that arise out of marijuana influence include waylaying women at night, raping them and defiling young girls. The drug also contributes to mental breakdown".

Also in Africa, Nigerian cops confirmed this week that they're actively abandoning their policy of routinely torturing prisoners such as Felix Obi, who was arrested at Lagos International Airport last year on suspicion of drug smuggling.

"The Investigating Police Officer denied me visitors, slapped, kicked and threatened to insert (a) broom-stick into my private parts," Mr Obi told Lagos newspaper This Day.

"Tossing cans of tear gas into our cell was a common phenomenon", he added.

"It (torture) is a practice we should desist from because in the process, somebody might drop death, and that will be murder", agreed Deputy Superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, Mr Emmanuel Ighodalo (This Day, Nigeria).
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