05/02/2008 00:00:00
UK: Drugs group discusses cannabis classification
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Cannabis could become a Class B substance again after Government drug
advisers meet to discuss its impact on society.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a review on its classification as
soon as he became Prime Minister.
Cannabis was downgraded from Class B to Class C four years ago but fears
that it could be linked to mental illness have prompted a rethink.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will hear the latest
evidence about the impact of the drug and will make a decision on
whether to recommend moving the drug back into Class B in the next few
months.
Mr Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith - who have the final say on
classification - are believed to support tougher penalties.
And Whitehall sources have suggested they may propose moving dope back
to Class B regardless of the ACMD's conclusions.
The ACMD's meeting in London's Docklands will hear presentations from
Professor Glyn Lewis of Bristol University's psychiatry unit about the
link between cannabis and psychosis.
Dr Mike White of the Forensic Science Service (FSS) will give latest
details about the content of the active ingredient THC found in recent
seizures of cannabis.
Expert Marije Wouters of the University of Amsterdam will present
findings on the smoking behaviour of cannabis users, and Association of
Chief Police Officers (Acpo) spokesman on cannabis, Assistant Chief
Constable Simon Byrne, will also give evidence.
Debra Bell of the Talking About Cannabis Parental Action Group will call
on the ACMD to reclassify dope to Class B.
She said: "Skunk cannabis is one of the evils of our time. I'm not
talking about it just being a gateway drug. It is dangerous in itself."
ACMD members expected to make a recommendation to the Home Secretary in
April.
http://itn.co.uk/news/ea5c4eb02c893d37f06b416dd3a42c8d.html
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13250
Author:
ITN News via UKCIA
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