Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jan 2004
Source: Statesman, The (India)
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=33974
Copyright: 2004 The Statesman
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Note: Although labeled an editorial on the website, appears to be 
originally printed in the London Times, therefore labeled as an OPED in 
this posting

DOCTORS' GROUP CONDEMNS PLAN TO DOWNGRADE CANNABIS

LONDON - Doctors' leaders on Tuesday night condemned the British 
government's plans to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug in the light of 
new evidence on its safety.

The British Medical Association said that the move, due to come into effect 
next week, sent out "all the wrong messages" to people thinking of 
experimenting with cannabis. It also called for ministers to keep the 
classification of cannabis under "constant review" and to consider moving 
it back to class B as new evidence on its safety comes to light. The BMA 
move comes weeks after The Times highlighted growing concerns within the 
medical community about links between cannabis and psychiatric illness.

Mr David Blunkett, the home secretary, announced in 2002 that he intended 
to reclassify the drug after a lengthy examination of drugs policy by the 
Commons Select Committee on home affairs and the Advisory Council on the 
Misuse of Drugs. It will still be an offence from 29 January to possess, 
cultivate or supply cannabis, but the maximum sentence for possession will 
fall from five years to two.

Dr Robin Murray, head of psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, said 
that inner-city psychiatric services were nearing a crisis point, with up 
to 80 per cent of all new psychotic cases reporting a history of cannabis use.

He said that new evidence had since come to light proving that people who 
used cannabis in their teens were up to seven times more likely to develop 
psychosis, delusional episodes or manic depression.- The Times, London