[Frank]

Cannabis 'won't be reclassified'

Home Secretary Charles Clarke is expected to rule out reclassifying cannabis, in a statement on Thursday.

The drug was downgraded from class B to class C two years ago but concerns over a link between cannabis use and mental illness have mounted since.

Mr Clarke ordered a review of the reclassification last year - saying the move had confused the public.

He is expected to launch a public information campaign, rather than changing cannabis back to class B.

Jail terms

BBC News 24 chief political correspondent James Landale said that "toughening" up the classification would have presented Mr Clarke with a series of political problems.

The maximum penalty for dealing in a class B drug is 14 years in jail, while class C dealing carries a maximum of five years.


It will be even harder now to convince young people that by taking cannabis they are playing Russian Roulette with their minds
Margaret Wallace
Chief executive SANE

The home secretary has been criticised for spreading confusion after voicing concerns about the effects of the drug.

A government awareness campaign will warn young people that cannabis is neither legal nor safe, despite 2004's reclassification.

The change from class B to class C has made possession of the drug a non-arrestable offence in most cases.

Experts divided

Mr Clarke's announcement on Thursday follows an unpublished report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

The group apparently found the impact of smoking cannabis on mental health was more serious than previously thought.

It is said to have stopped short of recommending reclassification and many experts believe that would be counter-productive.

Mr Clarke was apparently warned by council members that some would consider quitting if he reclassified the drug.

Experts and charities are divided over the possible reclassification.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, said there was mounting evidence cannabis, especially in its more toxic form of skunk, could cause long-term mental damage.

'Tougher now'

Ms Wallace said: "We do not wish to see more people in prison for possession.

"But we must balance their interests against those of vulnerable young people, for whom cannabis can mean a life-long sentence to illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression.

"While we welcome the home secretary's renewed pledge to a public education campaign, it will be even harder now to convince young people that by taking cannabis they are playing Russian Roulette with their minds."

But other mental health charities believe reclassifying the drug again would cause more confusion and see people go to court rather than receive health advice.

The Conservatives pressed at the election for cannabis to be made a class B drug again.

But they have no fixed position now and say they will study the advisory group's report carefully.

New leader David Cameron was on the committee of MPs which recommended downgrading it, although he has acknowledged there are stronger types of the drug available now which can cause mental illness.

The Lib Dems say they back health experts who believe cannabis holds health risks but think it should remain as a class C drug.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4625404.stm

[HailChickenWing]

Good news. Some people are finally starting adopt a reasonable mentality. Prohibition never solves anything; it only makes things worse.

[Frank]

you watching it on the BBC news now?, very anti weed...

just all the old crap recycled.. :icon_mad:

[JamaicanHerb]

what country is this for?

[Frank]

England

UK..

whatever you want to call it...

[six_shooter]

thank fuck for that

[Spakle]

what about the good U S of A?

do we have class C?!

[Frank]

Originally Posted by Spakle420

what about the good U S of A?

do we have class C?!

ha ha

[falnsenseofpryde]

fuckin faggots




Russian roulette with your miund




bullll

[heat_blitz]

Yeh good news, I saw it today on the bbc site. Would have been shit going backwards again.

[JamaicanHerb]

Originally Posted by Spakle420

what about the good U S of A?

do we have class C?!

it's a class c drug here to

[Spakle]

good. excelent

[JamaicanHerb]

most states it's only a fine for under an ounce as long as it's not in different bags

[elroypornlab]

Originally Posted by JamaicanHerb

it's a class c drug here to

We have Drug Scheduling
Schedule 1 through 5
http://www.dea.gov/pubs/scheduling.html

[Tasha]

...cannabis is on scheduel one...

where as Cocaine is on sched 2?

what kind of fucking bullshit is that!?

[The_Kelzor]

that is pretty crazy...dood.. your sig makes me want to kill people

[JamaicanHerb]

i ment class c misdemeanor

[HailChickenWing]

Frank, to answer your question, I'm not watching the BBC. I don't have a TV! It doesn't surprise me that they're taking an anti-weed stance though, being publicly funded. The general public is still so amazingly indoctrinated with all the propaganda we've already been fed that taking any other stance would probably cause a complete uproar.

[Unholy]

Thank. Fuck.


Seriously, I couldn't be arsed to hide it anymore than I already do.


I say forget class C, set the weed free!

[mooglekexin]

Fucking wankers, i might have to write to the gov on this one "cannabis causes psychological disorders such as schitzophrenia and depression" depression??? WHAT! THE! FUCK!

Useless fucking gov. reports. I'm hellishly pissed off abput this one.