DRUG LAW A FARCE: DAVIES

OLDHAM Euro-MP Chris Davies has branded the Government's decision to
upgrade cannabis from Class C to Class B status as ludicrous.

The Liberal Democrat said the change took no account of evidence, ignored
expert advice, and risked ruining the lives of thousands of young people.

From yesterday, possession of cannabis carries a maximum penalty of five
years in prison, although police will be able to issue spot fines to
first-time offenders.

Mr Davies said the new policy was hopelessly confused and would prove
ineffective. He called for a reappraisal of Government strategy, with
drugs use being treated as a matter not for the courts but for public
health.

He said: "Five years ago, the Government followed the advice of its
advisers that cannabis presented too few dangers to warrant its status and
downgraded it from Class B.

"Since then its use among young people has fallen by more than 20 per cent.

"Now, in the face of this success, the criminal penalties are being raised
against the advice of the Advisory Council on Drugs Misuse. It makes no
sense at all."

He claimed cannabis presented fewer dangers than alcohol, and warned the
law change would make criminals of individuals who had done no harm to
anybody.

He said: "Ten years ago, more than 40,000 people were arrested each year
for cannabis possession, and a significant number were imprisoned.

"Lives were ruined for no good purpose. Drugs policy in Britain is a
farce. It puts huge sums of money into the hands of real villains, while
branding decent people as criminals."