Q&A: CANNABIS GUIDELINES

Police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have been given new
guidelines on how to deal with cannabis users. BBC home affairs
correspondent Danny Shaw takes a closer look at the guidelines and the
changes they will bring.

*What are the key changes in the guidelines?

The key change is that there will be a "presumption against arrest"
when officers come across someone with cannabis in their possession.

At present, police are expected to arrest cannabis users, though
officers in some forces already take a pragmatic approach and turn a
blind eye to people who have small amounts of the drug for their own
use.

*What will the changes mean for cannabis users?

Most people found in possession of cannabis are unlikely to be
arrested. Instead, the police will give them an informal on-the-spot
warning and confiscate the drug.

*Can people still be arrested for using and dealing
cannabis?

Yes. Police still have the power to arrest anyone found with cannabis,
though they are advised to use their discretion. Those who smoke the
drug in "public view" or in front of children - near playgrounds,
schools and youth clubs - are more likely to be arrested.

Persistent cannabis offenders are also more at risk of arrest as are
those who use the drug in situations where there is a "fear of public
disorder".

Dealers will continue to be arrested and face the same penalties as
before - a maximum of 14 years in prison.

*Why are these changes being brought in?

The guidelines are intended to help the police put the policy on
re-classifying cannabis into practice.

The Home Office and the police hope the changes will mean officers
will spend less time arresting and processing cannabis offenders,
allowing them to focus on more harmful drugs like heroin, cocaine and
crack.

*When will they take effect?

Subject to Parliamentary approval cannabis will be re-classified on 29
January 2004. The guidelines will take effect at about the same time.

*Are they likely to face much opposition?

A number of MPs and anti-drug campaigners have grave misgivings about
the decision to re-classify cannabis, saying it sends out the wrong
message about drugs.

The Police Federation, which represents frontline officers, is also
opposed to re-classification, though it welcomes the guidelines. But
many drugs workers say the changes are long overdue.

*Are they likely to cause confusion amongst the public?

There is some evidence that the decision to re-classify, and the
experiment at Brixton in south London under which police took a more
lenient approach to cannabis offences, led some people to think that
cannabis was being legalised.

Whether confusion remains depends on how well ministers, police,
teachers and drug workers can explain the changes whilst reinforcing
the message that cannabis remains illegal.