Pubdate: Sat, 04 Mar 2006
Source: Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Archant Regional
Contact:  http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/141
Author: Naomi Canton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org

CLARKE AGREES TO MEET CANABIS GROUP

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has finally agreed to meet a city-based 
pro-cannabis group amid mounting controversy over the classification 
of the drug.

The Legalise Cannabis Alliance has secured a meeting with the Norwich 
South MP at the Home Office in London next week.

Mr Clarke had previously snubbed the organisation, but has now agreed 
to listen to what it has to say.

The meeting comes at a time when drugs are top of the political agenda again.

A new study demonstrating the link between psychosis and cannabis - 
written by Prof Tom Barnes - has just been published, adding more 
pressure on the Government to take a fresh look at the price paid by 
increasing numbers of young people dependent on cannabis.

This week, Surrey coroner Alan Crickmore called into question the 
Government's drugs laws after claiming that, in one of every 100 
heroin-related cases he presided over, cannabis was also being used.

Two years ago, the Government downgraded the classification of 
cannabis from Class B to Class C, but Mr Clarke is coming under 
increased pressure to regrade it.

Instead, he has ordered a sweeping review of the laws covering 
illegal drug abuse, after accepting research linking it to mental illness.

Today, he explained why he had now agreed to meet the alliance, which 
regularly puts forward nominees to run for seats on Norwich City Council.

Mr Clarke said: "The purpose of the meeting is for them to set out 
their case on the question of cannabis and we will have an exchange of views.

"It's an opportunity for them to say what they consider the 
Government should be doing and I will listen."

But he added it was "very unlikely" he would reclassify cannabis.

Alliance spokesman Don Barnard said he was delighted Mr Clarke was 
granting it an audience. "This is something we never expected to get 
and we shall be taking advantage of it. We have been trying to get to 
meet Home Secretaries for years, so I am pleased this has come about. 
We hope to address the issues we disagree on. We will be saying that 
the Government should involve cannabis users in the development of 
future cannabis policies and decisions."

He added: "We are not planning on persuading him to change his views 
on classification of the drug, but we want to be involved in policy-making."

What are your views on cannabis and other drugs? Write to Evening 
News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE, email  or visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/ forums
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom