Institute Update Issue 2 - May 2002

Blunkett announces plans to reclassify cannabis

People caught in possession of cannabis will no longer be arrested, under proposals to be introduced by the Home Secretary this summer. David Blunkett has announced that he intends to reclassify cannabis from a class B to a class C drug. It is expected that this proposal will be laid before Parliament in June, when MPs will have a chance to debate it.

The proposal follows intensive lobbying from groups who want to see the total legalisation of cannabis. Some police groups claim that reclassifying cannabis will free them up to focus on dealers of hard drugs.

As soon as the Home Secretary’s announcement was made, one senior police group called for the reclassification of the harder drug, ecstasy.

In Brixton, authorities have been piloting a project where people caught in possession of cannabis are not arrested. Initial reports indicate that the approach has in fact increased the dealing of cannabis and harder drugs.

The scheme was backed by controversial Police Commander Brian Paddick, who was moved from his post following allegations that he allowed the smoking of cannabis at his home.

The Home Secretary’s reclassification plans have drawn condemnation from those opposed to changing the law on cannabis. Critics point to the fact that cannabis is more medically dangerous than most people realise and can act as a ‘gateway’ to other, harder drugs.

Cannabis-related road injuries tripled during the ten year period leading up to 1997. Government figures show that 12 per cent of road fatalities are cannabis-related. If this trend continues, dope-driving will overtake drink-driving as a major road killer.
The Christian Institute has recently produced a new briefing which demolishes the most popular arguments for liberalising the law on cannabis. The briefing is available from the Institute.

Back to Contents

This content requires the Adobe Flash Player. Download Adobe Flash Player here.