06/02/2008 00:00:00
UK: Should cannabis be upgraded from class C to class B?
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BURNING ISSUE
YES
Neil McKeganey, professor of drug misuse research, Glasgow University
In 1995, the Lancet, one of the world's most respected medical journals,
began an editorial with the words: "The smoking of cannabis, even long
term, is not harmful to health." In 2007, the Lancet printed a total
U-turn in a further editorial, which stated that "research published
since 1995 leads us now to conclude that cannabis use could increase the
risk of psychotic illness". Governments, it said, "would do well to
invest in sustained and effective education campaigns on the risk to
health of taking cannabis".
Placing cannabis in class C was a move called for by David Blunkett, who
regarded the drug as little more than a waste of police time. It was a
move supported at the time by the police, who also wanted to concentrate
on heroin and cocaine. The police and medical experts have now changed
their view and come to realise that, in tackling the growing problem of
illegal drug use in our cities and in our villages, you cannot turn away
from the drug that is used more widely than any other: cannabis.
Classifying drugs is as much a political activity as a scientific issue.
We need to send out a clear message that the government is serious about
tackling all forms of illegal drug use, and we need to dispense with the
idea that some drugs are more acceptable than others.
I hope that the Home Secretary has the courage to return cannabis to
class B. In doing so, she would be righting an error on the part of a
previous home secretary but, more importantly, she would signal that her
government is, indeed, serious about tackling our growing drug problem.
NO
Linda Hendry, spokeswoman for the Legalise Cannabis Campaign Scotland
It would be a backward step because the taxpayer shouldn't have to pay
by putting people in prison. It's harmful to send someone to jail – they
can learn lots of bad things and will be more likely to move on to more
serious drugs, such as heroin.
If people have health needs, then the issuing of cannabis should be
dealt with through the health system. Similarly, if people have
recreational needs, then cannabis should be sold in a regulated way,
like alcohol.
The theory is that it should be controlled by being a class C drug, but
that simply means you can buy some if you know the right dodgy people.
At the moment, it's driven underground, so you don't know what you're
getting. It should be labelled so people are given the facts.
Research has shown that cannabis consumption was higher when it was
class B, so the idea that reclassifying it will reduce consumption is
wrong. In fact, I believe young people will only be more likely to take
it if it's illegal, as it will be regarded as daring.
It is often argued that cannabis is linked to mental health problems.
But until everybody can freely report their cannabis use, we're not
going to know what the statistics are. I don't think we know who takes
it or when.
If shops can sell disgusting magazines on the top shelf, why can't they
sell chocolate with cannabis inside? However, I certainly don't think
children should be able to get it without a doctor's prescription.
http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Should-cannabis-be-upgraded-from.3746668.jp
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13257
Author:
The Scotsman via UKCIA
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