Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2005
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Rosie Cowan, The Guardian
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

LAW CHANGE IMPRACTICAL - MET CHIEF

Cannabis should not be upgraded again, and if it is, fixed penalty
fines should be issued for the possession of small amounts, Britain's
top policeman said yesterday.

Sir Ian Blair, the Scotland Yard commissioner, said it was a waste of
his officers' time spending hours dealing with possession offences
when prosecutors and courts did not act on them.

If the government reverses the downgrading of the drug, as it is
currently considering, then he would push hard for fixed penalty
notices, although he refused to be drawn on what he considered an
appropriate fine.

David Blunkett reclassified cannabis from Class B to Class C in
January last year. While possession is still illegal, those caught
with small amounts are not normally arrested, but have the drug
confiscated and receive a formal warning.

But his successor, Charles Clarke, has asked the Advisory Council for
the Misuse of Drugs to investigate whether cannabis use contributes to
long-term mental health problems.

Mr Clarke is also considering whether stronger "skunk" varieties of
the drug should carry more severe penalties. However, Sir Ian argued
that such a move would be "impractical". 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake