20/11/2007 00:00:00
UK: Police reconsider cannabis stance
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Senior police officers are calling for cannabis to be reclassified from
a class C to a class B drug.
The Association of Chief Police Officers had supported the downgrading
of the drug from class B to Class C three years ago.
However Tim Hollis, chairman of Acpo's drugs committee, said it was now
supporting a return to the previous position.
He said downgrading the drug had sent out the wrong signals to young people.
Acpo is also concerned about the number of cannabis "factories" that
have sprung up in rented houses across the country.
Mr Hollis said organised criminals now viewed the UK as a potential
place to produce cannabis.
Police are stressing that any reclassification would not necessarily
change the way that they currently police possession of cannabis,
although that may be reviewed in the light of any reclassification.
ACPO says it will give evidence to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Drugs. A decision on whether the drug will be upgraded is expected next
spring.
The annual ACPO drugs conference in Cardiff is due to hear the latest
evidence about links between mental illness and cannabis abuse.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7103413.stm
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13023
Author:
BBC News via UKCIA
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