Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2002
Source: The Dominion Post (WV)
Copyright: 2002 The Dominion Post
Contact:  http://www.dominionpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1426

BRITAIN SEEKS TO EASE ITS LAWS ON MARIJUANA USE

LONDON (AP)-- Prime Minister Tony Blair's government moved Wednesday to 
relax its laws on marijuana, stopping short of legalization but 
guaranteeing most users will get off with just a warning while police focus 
their enforcement efforts on harder drugs.

Under the proposal, marijuana would be downgraded from a Class B to a Class 
C drug, making its use and possession less serious crimes, Home Secretary 
David Blunkett said in outlining the plan to the House of Commons. Police 
would retain the authority to arrest those caught with marijuana, but in 
most cases would simply confiscate the drug and issue a warning.

''The message to young people and families must be open, honest and 
believable,'' Blunkett said. ''Cannabis is a potentially harmful drug and 
should remain illegal. However, it is not comparable with crack, heroin and 
Ecstasy.''

The proposed downgrade would put marijuana on a par with anabolic steroids 
instead of amphetamines and barbiturates, the drugs it is grouped with now. 
Blair's Labor Party has a large majority in Parliament and the proposal is 
virtually certain to pass.

Blair said the proposal did not amount to decriminalization and had wide 
support among the police because it would allow them to spend more time 
fighting more serious drugs.

''The power to arrest remains, but what reclassification does is allow the 
police, where they think it right, to focus on hard drug dealing and drug 
dealing of any description, including cannabis, and that is why the 
proposals are supported by the chief police officers and the Metropolitan 
Police,'' he told the House of Commons.

The opposition Conservative Party criticized the proposal as potentially 
dangerous to the public and a government adviser resigned in protest.

Possession of a Class B drug currently carries a maximum penalty of five 
years in jail.

Possession of a Class C drug carries a maximum sentence of two years, but 
the Home Office said that penalty is rarely invoked for first-time 
offenders, who normally receive only a ticket.

Blunkett said that in most marijuana possession cases police would simply 
confiscate the drug and issue a warning to the offender.

But, he said, the proposed rules would give officers the power to arrest 
those possessing small amounts of pot if public order is threatened or 
children are put at risk.

A Home Office spokesman said Blunkett could order marijuana reclassified, 
but because he wants to modify the rules to make sure officers retain the 
power to arrest, the change must be approved by Parliament, which approves 
virtually anything Blair requests.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom