JUDGE CRITICISES CHANGES TO CANNABIS LAW

A judge has criticised the Government decision to downgrade cannabis
after sentencing a supermarket worker for dealing.

Kieron Harvey, aged 23, was caught with cannabis worth UKP668 when
police raided his home in Northampton House, Wellington Street,
Northampton on March 2. Northampton Crown Court heard how officers
found a large bag of cannabis at his feet as they entered the
property, as well as UKP905 in cash, and a small amount hidden in a tin.

But as well as the cannabis, officers also discovered a canister of
police-issued pepper spray which Harvey said was for his girlfriend
who suffers from agoraphobia and gave her the confidence to go out.

Harvey, who admitted possession of cannabis with intent and
possession of a prohibited weapon, said he had bought the drugs in
bulk to save money and supply it to his friends.

Michael Waterfield, prosecuting, said: "He decided to buy the
cannabis in bulk because it was cheaper and himself and two other
people who he lives with would chip in.

"They intended it should be smoked between them, with the defendant
spending about UKP500 a month on cannabis."

Judge Richard Bray sentenced him to 40 weeks' imprisonment, suspended
for a year, with supervision, and UKP200 costs. Harvey was also fined
UKP905 for having the pepper spray.

Passing sentence, he said: "This remains a serious offence. You had a
warning about cannabis from the magistrates some time ago and failed
to heed it and continued to use it and supply it to others.

"Cannabis is not just a harmless recreational drug. Recent research
has confirmed it is a drug which can contribute substantially,
particularly in its modern forms, to mental illness.

"This Government should never have reduced it from a class B to a
class C drug. This sends out completely the wrong message to drug
users in this country."

Makhan Shoker, defending, said Harvey's arrest had acted as a wake-up
call and he had now started to reduce the amount of cannabis he
smoked each month.

He added: "Apart from smoking cannabis with his friends at the flat,
he leads a perfectly normal law-abiding life."