EXPERTS CALL FOR EASING OF LAWS ON CANNABIS USE

THE downgrading of cannabis to a Class C drug came a step closer
yesterday with the publication of a report stating that high use was
not linked to serious health problems for individuals or society.

The change is likely to occur in the summer and will result in
possession of cannabis no longer being an arrestable offence.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is expected to announce
reclassification to the least serious category under the Misuse of
Drugs Act 1971. Cannabis is currently a Class B drug.

This would be the biggest change in Britain's 30-year-old drug laws.
Making cannabis a Class C drug would put it in the same category as
tranquillisers such as Valium, antidepressants and steroids.

The maximum penalty for possession would be two years' imprisonment or
an unlimited fine or both, rather than five years or an unlimited fine
or both. The jail term for dealing would be five years rather than
14.

Mr Blunkett is thought likely to make the announcement after he has
received a report from the House of Commons Home Affairs Select
Committee. The committee is investigating drugs policy.

Support for the downgrading proposal came from the Advisory Council on
the Misuse of Drugs which yesterday recommended reclassification.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman and the Home Office insisted
that there were no plans to decriminalise or legalise cannabis.

The council's study, commissioned by the Home Office, said cannabis
was harmful, but its status as a Class B drug was disproportionate to
its risks to health and to other drugs in the same category, such as
amphetamines. It said that the high use of cannabis was not associated
with major health problems and that occasional use rarely led to
significant problems in healthy people.

The report said that the harmful effects were "very substantially"
less than those associated with similar use of other Class B drugs.
But it said that even occasional use could pose a significant danger
for people with heart and circulation problems and for those with
mental health disorders such as schizophrenia.

It said that the effects of cannabis on fertility were unclear but
that cannabis use during pregnancy was not safe. However, the report
added that it was probably no more dangerous to the foetus than either
alcohol or tobacco.

The study said it was not possible to say whether cannabis use led to
dependence or a progression to harder drugs such as heroin and
cocaine. It said that it was likely that cannabis use, along with
alcohol and smoking, had an effect on later Class A
drug-taking.

The report said: "The continuing juxtaposition of cannabis with these
more harmful Class B drugs erroneously (and dangerously) suggests that
their harmful effects are equivalent.

"The council therefore recommends the reclassification of all cannabis
preparations, to Class C."

DEBATE

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