BLUNKETT WANTS MARIJUANA DOWNGRADED

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's marijuana laws should be relaxed to give
police more time to battle harder drugs, the nation's top law
enforcement official said Tuesday.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said reclassifying marijuana, or
cannabis, as a ``Class C drug'' -- putting it in the same category as
anabolic steroids -- would not be the same as decriminalization or
legalization. However, such a change means that those possessing
marijuana would not be subject to arrest.

``Cannabis would remain a controlled drug and using it a criminal
offense ... but it would make clearer the distinction between
cannabis and Class A drugs like heroin and cocaine,'' Blunkett told a
House of Commons committee meeting.

``It is time for an honest and common sense approach focusing
effectively on drugs that cause most harm,'' he added.

Blunkett's statement comes amid an intensifying political debate
about marijuana. Senior figures from all three major political
parties have now urged a review of cannabis laws.

Police say seven out of 10 drug arrests are for marijuana and that
processing a marijuana-related arrest creates several hours of police
paperwork and usually ends with a small fine.

Changing the marijuana laws would require approval by Parliament. The
proposal will first be discussed with senior police officers and the
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, a Home Office spokesman
said. A final decision is expected in the spring.

Marijuana is currently a Class B drug, and possession carries a
maximum penalty of five years in jail.

Simple possession of a Class C drug carries a maximum sentence of two
years, and British law states that only offenses punishable with at
least five years imprisonment are subject to arrest. In lesser
offenses, a police officer can only issue a warning or a court
summons.

Possession with intent to supply or supplying Class C drugs would
still be an arrestable offense.

One south London borough is effectively implementing the home
secretary's proposal. Since July, Lambeth police have been giving
only a verbal warning to anyone caught with a small amount of
marijuana.