POLICE SET NEW CANNABIS GUIDELINES

New guidelines telling police officers how to deal with cannabis users
following the downgrading of the drug do not include a maximum
"personal use" limit.

The guidelines, issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers,
are a response to the reclassification of cannabis by the Home
Secretary David Blunkett.

But the 600-word guidance does not specify a limit to the amount of
cannabis users can claim is for their own consumption.

A separate document stated that setting a limit for personal use would
lead to dealers carrying amount just under the limit. It also mentions
the difficulties for officers estimating weights or quantities on the
street.

The guidance sets out when officers will be able to arrest people
caught with the drug.

Public Use Offence

ACPO now says that possession of cannabis would "ordinarily not be an
arrestable offence" but mentions a number of instances in which arrest
should be made.

Among these, it advises that people smoking cannabis in public,
possessing the drug around children or being repeatedly found with the
drug should be arrested.

Another use leading to arrest would be when users are creating a "fear
of public disorder".

Mr Blunkett decided to downgrade the drug from Class B to Class C to
free police time in the war against Class A drugs, including heroin
and crack.

The reclassification was welcomed by those campaigning for a more
liberal attitude to cannabis use.

But ACPO spokesman and Chief Constable of Norfolk Police Andy Hayman
said officers will still have the power of arrest for possession.

"The new guidance recommends that there should be a presumption
against arrest.

"In practice, this means that in the majority of cases officers will
issue a warning and confiscate the drug.

"That said, despite reclassification, it remains illegal to possess
cannabis."

Officers dealing with cannabis possession will still be required to
record the incident as a crime. And procedure for under-18s found in
possession of cannabis will remain unchanged.

Mr Blunkett is expected to reclassify cannabis early next year after
new powers under the Criminal Justice Bill come into force.