BLUNKETT SEEKS CANNABIS LAW CHANGE

Home Secretary David Blunkett today said possession of cannabis should no
longer be an arrestable offence, heralding a massive shake-up of drugs policy.

He proposed reclassifying the drug as "Class C", putting it in the same
category as anti-depressants and steroids.

Mr Blunkett denied the move was decriminalisation by another name and
stressed the drug will remain illegal.

But in practice, cannabis smokers will be unlikely to face any consequences
if they are caught with small amounts of the drug.

If cannabis is re-graded as Class C, the maximum sentence for possession
would be two years in Crown Courts or three months in magistrates courts.

Only offences punishable with at least five years imprisonment are arrestable.

Possession with intent to supply or supplying Class C drugs carry a five
year maximum.

Today's move is designed to free police time to concentrate on hard drugs
like heroin and cocaine, removing the "policing anomaly" which means nearly
seven out of 10 drug arrests are for a relatively harmless drug.

"Re-classification would be quite different from decriminalisation or
legalisation," said Mr Blunkett.

"Cannabis would remain a controlled drug and using it a criminal offence.

"It would not detract from the simple message that all drugs are harmful
and that no-one should take drugs.

"But it would make clearer the distinction between cannabis and Class A
drugs like heroin and cocaine.

"Above all it would make sense to both those policing the system and those
providing education and advice to prevent young people falling into addiction."

Conceding that the law is lagging far behind public attitudes to cannabis,
he added: "In spite of our focus on hard drugs, the majority of police time
is currently spent on handling cannabis offences.

"It is time for an honest and common sense approach focusing effectively on
drugs that cause most harm.

"Given this background, and the very clear difference between cannabis and
Class A drugs, I want to consult the medical and scientific professionals
on re-classifying cannabis from Class B to Class C."

The police are believed to be concerned at the prospect of losing the power
to arrest someone for possession but ministers are not proposing to take
options which are open to them to retain it as an arrestable offence under
its new Class C status.

"They will still have plenty of powers to stop people but possession of
cannabis won't be one of them," said a Home Office spokesman.

There will be discussions with senior police officers while the change is
being considered by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Mr Blunkett said he wants the ACMD to report back within three months and
make a final decision on the proposals next spring.

Mr Blunkett said the number of 16 to 19-year-olds using drugs in the last
year fell but added: "We must all be concerned at the increasing numbers of
young people using cocaine and the corrosive effects of cocaine and heroin
on our communities.

"We need to warn young people that all drugs are dangerous, but Class A
drugs such as heroin and cocaine are the most harmful.

"We will only be successful at delivering this message if our policy as a
whole is balanced and credible."

The Home Secretary said a campaign would be launched in December to spell
out the dangers of drug taking and there would be an extra ?1 million to
fund a pilot project tackling regional drug traffickers.

Mr Blunkett also said that if current clinical trials are successful he
will change the law to allow the use of cannabis-based prescription drugs
to combat conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

A group of key experts has been set up to develop an action plan to tackle
the treatment of crack and cocaine, and with the Department of Health would
be producing new guidance for heroin prescribing.

"This will work towards providing a bridge between those who are obtaining
heroin illegally, often through criminal activity, and the methadone
treatment prescribing.

"It would be under highly secure and strict procedures and would allow the
transfer into treatment without the current risks that exist to heroin
users," he said.

In 1999, some 68% of the 120,000 drugs offences had been cannabis-related
with each one taking officers two to three hours to process.

Today's proposals would help "marry up reality with the law as it stands"
but were not a move towards reclassification of harder drugs, said a Home
Office official.

"The central issue is that heroin and cocaine are still the most damaging,
and Class A drugs in general. At the moment that is somewhat blurred - it's
about striking a balance," he said.

"The bottom line is all drugs are harmful. This is not a stepping stone nor
a move towards the Dutch-style model or decriminalisation by another name.

"Two years in the slammer is still there as the ultimate sanction."