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Home page > English (en) > NEWS > 2007 > UK: PUBLIC TO BE CONSULTED ON DRUG STRATEGY

UK: PUBLIC TO BE CONSULTED ON DRUG STRATEGY

UK Government to re-consider classification of cannabis

published Thursday 19 July 2007 23:58, by Alun Buffry (LCA) . update Sunday 6 January 2008 10:17

All the versions of this article: [English]

Downing Street Press Release:

Source: Downing Street

Date: July 18 2007


The PM has announced plans to consult with the public on their strategy for tackling drugs.

Speaking during today’s PMQs, he said that the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would publish a consultation document next week, which will outline the Government’s plans for providing drugs education, treating those with drug problems, and supporting communities troubled by drug dealers.

The public will also be consulted on whether cannabis should be reclassified from being a class C drug to the more serious class B.

Cannabis was downgraded to class C, which includes drugs such as anabolic steroids, from class B, which includes amphetamines, in 2004.

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  • What would be the best way to make the government understand that the so called "war on drugs" has finished?. There have never been as many outlets, as many drugs, as cheap and as powerful. After more than fifty years of complete failures, it is now more than clear that the choice is not between a world with or without drugs. Drugs are part of this planet we like it or not. The real choice is between empowering doctors or criminals. Why should we empower criminals in giving them the monopoly on drug sales? Have we forgotten Al Capone? Criminals spend the money they make with drugs in better weapons, thus making society more and more dangerous.

    The most important question is: do politicians criminalise certain drugs because they are being paid by criminals, or because they think that public opinion, after decades of being conditioned by the media, will stop voting for them if they decriminalise drugs?

    Everybody, not only doctors and scientists, know that the most dangerous recreational drugs are alcohol and tobacco (as can be read in the report of the RSA Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, 2007). This doesn’t mean that cannabis, LSD or MDMA are harmless; but you would be better off using the drugs that harm you least. Everybody knows this, even kids, so how can you expect to curb consumption only because the sales outlet is the “street” rather than the pharmacy? It seems absolute madness.

    To change the outlets from the pharmacy to the streets just makes criminals more powerful and wealthier. Why would anyone in his right mind want to do this?

    By criminalising drugs, we give money and power to criminals. Do you want to protect your children from criminals? Then take the drugs from the street and bring them back to where they belong: the pharmacies.

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