DRUGS: CANNABIS - THE GREAT DEBATE

SINCE David Blunkett announced the reclassification of cannabis, the debate
has raged.

Today, we ask three people who represent differing sides of the discussion
- - Marcus Davies, of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Chief Superintendent
Mark Hopkins of Peterborough police, and Lisa Mellen, team leader with
Bridgegate Drug Advice Agency - their views on the Home Secretary's plan.

David Blunkett announced he was making cannabis a Class C drug because the
previous classification was "disproportionate in relation to the harm that
is causes". Do you agree with the change?

Marcus Davies: There most definitely needs to be a change in the law. I
don't think Mr Blunkett has gone far enough.

Making cannabis a Class C drug is like saying it is still dangerous and I
don't believe it is.

Mark Hopkins: There's no indication to the best of my knowledge that
cannabis creates the same dangers to health as taking Class A substances.
While there are still question marks over the possible long term
psychological effects, they do not appear to be as dangerous as those
linked to taking other illegal substances.

Lisa Mellen: I agree that when you look at cannabis in relation to other
Class B drugs, amphetamines for example, it does not have the same
long-term and short-term risks.

And from that point of view, reclassification is certainly going to be very
useful.

Mr Blunkett stated that in the "vast majority of cases", police will now
issue a warning and seize the drugs of people in possession of cannabis.

Do you agree with this new strategy?

Marcus Davies: This is not a great change in strategy, as warnings and drug
seizures are already common ways of dealing with people caught in
possession of small amounts of cannabis. The real difference is that the
police will not go looking for cannabis users, but the message is still the
same that they should not be smoking the drug.

Mark Hopkins: I don't think that has been completely thought through.
Before we make any firm decisions we need to look at the experiences of
officers working in the Metropolitan police in the Brixton area of London,
who have conducted a trail period changing their approach to policing
cannabis users.

Lisa Mellen: We work within the boundaries of whatever is the law of the
day when it comes to regulating cannabis. But Drugscope, the national
organisation which Bridgegate subscribes to, was consulted by the
Government when they were reaching these conclusions, so we have had some
say in these latest developments on how the police plan to change their
approach.

The maximum penalty for supplying and dealing Class C drugs is to increase
from five years to 14 years.

Is this fair for a Class C drug?

Marcus Davies: These are scare tactics which won't make a difference to
people who use or deal in it. The real danger is you have to buy cannabis
from someone who would rather sell you something more profitable heroin,
cocaine and ecstasy will make dealers far more money.

Mark Hopkins: Yes, dealing in cannabis remains a very lucrative and
valuable trade, as we have seen in Peterborough with the case of the
Dowells. There is currently no suggestion of decriminalisation of the drug,
and people who deal in it should continue to face harsh penalties.

Lisa Mellen: As an agency we are responsible for telling people the penalty
for supplying Class C has increased that is our role. The increase will be
a deterrent for some people who will be warned off from supplying cannabis
by the threat of a longer prison term.

Mr Blunkett said that anyone attempting to open a "cannabis cafe" will
still be breaking the law. Should this be the case?

Marcus Davies: For the last two years I have been involved in an internet
cafe shop selling medicinal cannabis chocolate to Multiple Sclerosis
sufferers. I know a cannabis cafe has been opened in Stockport, and there
is one in London which I go to, although I don't see why I should travel
all the way to London for something which to me is no different from the
herbs you might put on your pizza. Unfortunately, as a city I think we are
too narrow-minded to open a cannabis cafe in Peterborough.

Mark Hopkins: Yes, as they are still supplying a controlled drug. While we
are saying there is a lower impact on people's health from cannabis use, we
have not gone all the way to saying smoking it is ok. Until we get to that
point and we may never get to that point we must continue to be vigilant
with people who sell it.

Lisa Mellen: The review has taken into account all the things that needed
to be considered in the bigger cannabis picture, and one of those things is
the type of cannabis cafe commonly heard of in Amsterdam. But it is very
important we remember we are not talking about decriminalisation, and
people do not make the mistake that that is what has happened here.
Cannabis has been downgraded, but it is still illegal to supply it, and
cannabis cafes would come under the category of suppliers.

Mr Blunkett said all "killer drugs" should remain Class A. Do you agree?

Marcus Davies: Yes, I do believe that any drug which can kill you should
remain Class A. But I also believe we are educated enough to know that
heroin and crack cocaine will kill you, amphetamines will do you great
damage mentally, and cannabis will make you cough.

How many people have died from coughing too much?

Mark Hopkins: There is still great potential for abuse by individuals or
suppliers, either intentionally or unintentionally, when it comes to Class
A drugs. People can overdose when the strength of the heroin is too low by
taking too much, or if it is too strong. Great care therefore should be
taken in reducing the classifications of these drugs, where there is still
such a huge risk to the individual.

Lisa Mellen: These drugs which are causing a greater degree of harm to
individuals and families should remain Class A drugs. They need to be dealt
with more severely, as they are more dangerous than cannabis, and create
greater levels of hurt and distress.