OPINION
UK Government's “making a hash” of downgrading cannabis
The reclassification of cannabis has been described as
playing ‘russian roulette‘ with children's lives by youth workers and drugs
campaigners. But police claim the law change leaves them free to focus on serious
crime connected with more harmful drugs like crack, heroin and cocaine.
The downgrading of the drug which comes into effect on Friday (Jan
30), means cannabis is a class C drug not class B, but remains illegal.
Superintendent Paul Tinnion of Thames Valley police, said officers
could still arrest people if they believed they were intending to deal
the drugs. But if a person is found with small amounts of the drug believed to
be for personal use, an arrest is unlikely. Instead, the drug will be confiscated, personal details recorded and
a warning given.
Mr Tinnion said: “We will continue to target our resources on more
harmful class A drugs and serious offences connected with the supply and
demand of these drugs. Arrest referral schemes are in place and
treatment provision is being enhanced through the Drug Action teams to
divert offenders away from drug misuse and therefore reduce drug related
crime.”
But the move has found opposition with youth workers who felt
cannabis led to harder drugs. Tara O'Brien, a youth worker on Slough's Britwell estate, said the
drug could be ‘as dangerous as crack and cocaine’. “Why are we taking
the risk with our kids. We are meant to look after them and not play
Russian Roulette with their lives,” she said. “Teenagers are not aware
of the possible psychological effects. These days, they are smoking
skunk which is ten times stronger than when MPs were at university.”
Ms O'Brien said the drug could cause depression and paranoia and in
20 years time she expected to see an increase in mental health problems.
“This is a big mistake and the Government will live to regret it,”
she said.
By Sam Matthews
30 January 2004
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/sloughandwindsor/content_objectid=13870255_method=full_siteid=50102_headline=-Government-s-making-a-hash-of-downgrading-name_page.html
home
|