HOW THE LAW WILL WORK

Where are we exactly with this cannabis thing?

The drug will be downgraded from Class B to a Class C by July 2003. The
police are to expand Brixton's controversial "seize and warn" policy across
London by the autumn.

Does that mean I can sit on the steps of Brixton police station and skin up?

No. It will still be illegal to possess cannabis and users can still be
arrested for "aggravating factors" such as the involvement of children or
"flagrant disregard" of the law. For simple possession the police are more
likely to seize the drug and issue a warning.

What happens if they do?

If you are arrested and charged you will face a maximum prison sentence of
two years.

So, if I've got my stash in my pocket I'm fine?

As long as nobody knows it is there and it's not a large stash.

What if I buy it with friends?

The maximum penalty for dealing is to be increased from five to 14 years.
Mr Blunkett specifically rejected calls for a lesser crime of "social dealing".

How much would I have to have on me before police thought I was a dealer?

That depends. In reality you could probably get away with an ounce, which
is worth about ?100, but not if you were also caught carrying weighing
scales or large amounts of cash.

When will it be OK to take it around the rest of the UK?

It will not be OK to have a stash of anything anywhere, and you will have
to wait until next July before the downgrading of cannabis comes into
effect throughout the UK.

What about other drugs?

Cannabis has been downgraded to allow police to concentrate on class A drug
dealers - heroin, crack, cocaine and ecstasy.