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5:37pm Sunday 11th May 2008
Making cannabis a class B drug is unlikely to change the way it's tackled by police in Oxfordshire, according to a drugs tsar.
Cannabis has been upgraded from a class C drug by the Government because of fears the super-strength strain dubbed skunk can cause mental health problems - especially with youngsters.
In the past year, 1,576 people in Oxfordshire have been caught by police for possessing cannabis.
Police dished out 341 cautions and 872 warnings, while the remaining 363 were either arrested and charged or released.
Dr Shona Morrison, the drugs co-ordinator for Thames Valley Police, said the force was awaiting guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) on how to tackle cannabis use.
Currently a user gets a caution after three warnings for possession. But Dr Morrison, who sets drugs strategy for the force, said reclassification was unlikely to change anything.
Dr Morrison added: "The options that are available to us when cannabis was class C and options available to us now will not necessarily change.
"It won't change how people supplying drugs are dealt with - they will still be a priority. It's simply a difference in sentencing, while cannabis farms will still be dealt with whether it is class B or C drug.
"I don't think it's going to change things dramatically. Whatever guidelines Acpo issue I am sure will be appropriate - but the way we have been dealing with cannabis has been appropriate."
Earlier this year, Pc Leigh Thompson, drugs co-ordinator for Oxfordshire, called for the cannabis to be reclassified over mental health concerns.
He said: "I hope this time the Government will make a push and educate people about cannabis. It is illegal and was never legal."
Oxford's Substance Misuse Arrest Referral Team (SMART) treats criminals with drugs problems referred by police.
Chief executive Darren Worthington said: "We don't have any cannabis users referred to us at all. It must be less than one per cent.
"I don't think the reclassification of cannabis will have much impact at all on the usage."
Class B drug offences can lead to a five-year jail term while class C drug crimes have a two-year prison limit.
The Government's decision to upgrade cannabis to class B was contrary to the recommendations by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
alan page, says...
12:15am Mon 12 May 08
Mr Ison, England says...
10:14am Mon 12 May 08
Mr Ison wrote:In this country it seems to be legal to worship gas chambers.
My concern is the reported mental retardation of Mr Thompson. If the statement is an accurate representation of what was said i do question his suitability to represent the Police.
peter Grimes, Runcorn says...
12:54pm Mon 12 May 08
alan page, says...
1:53pm Mon 12 May 08
peter Grimes wrote:Kinsey was also a top scientist.
Last Friday Gordon got battered at the polls and so now will start to listen. Next day he declares that he is going to ignore advice from a panel of top scientists to get a few middle class votes from the suberbia. Same liar as BLiar only not as clever.
peter Grimes, Runcorn says...
8:04pm Mon 12 May 08
alan page, says...
11:00pm Mon 12 May 08
peter Grimes wrote:Everybody knows there is a major push to return to the good old days of the Opium trade.
Comparison of the GROUP of scientists in question and an extreme individual from another era like Kinsey is rediculous, and you know it, so please stop insulting our intellegence. All humans are capable of distorting evidence but do you truly believe they did in this case? Please specify individual self interests from the group. In truth, the self interest is more likely to come from the government, why else would companies lobby and donate to party funds? What evidence do you have to back up the rest of the wild statements? and why not ban alcohol and nicotene if you follow your health arguments. They are more dangerous to health, FACT. It looks to me you are starting with the answer and working backwards to accomodate the facts which suit, take the opposite approach (the scientific approach) and you might get rid of all your built up bile and manage a reasoned arguement. Oh and I have not smoked cannabis since it used to come in little brown blocks at university, (nostalgia) but I don't see what harm we ever did anybody when I did. I am now an MD, close to retirement and have worked very hard to get there (and now live a comfortable life). Had I have been caught smoking just one joint at university, I would have been criminalised and I would have had a much harder life and never got where I am. Do you really think that that is what I deserved for the half a dozen times I smoked cannabis? ...or alternatively, do you think consider that people starting out in life should have any chance of success removed because Gordon needs votes?
alan page, says...
10:19am Tue 13 May 08
Peter Grimes, Runcorn says...
12:19am Wed 14 May 08
Peter Grimes, Runcorn says...
12:43am Wed 14 May 08
alan page, says...
12:58am Wed 14 May 08
Peter Grimes wrote:I am not criminalising anybody.
Sorry mate but you are missing he point. To trivialise this issue by ignoring it's most important consequence and using it as an excuse to rant on about how bad drugs are, is about as cynical as criminalising a generation to win some cheap votes from suburban housewives. Are you Gordon Brown in disguise?
alan page, says...
1:15am Wed 14 May 08
Peter Grimes wrote:Kinsey? Your point is irrelevant. His findings point to a trauma rate of 25%, a "vast minority" suffering an adverse effect. Now where have I heard that argument given in support of other criminal activities? Mmmm let me think.
Oh and with regard to the Kinsey reference, the difference between paedophilia and cannabis is the lack of a victim in the latter. ...........and when I went to school, religion was the opium of the people. by the way you sound as nutty as me.
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Mr Ison, England says...
6:26pm Sun 11 May 08
If the statement is an accurate representation of what was said i do question his suitability to represent the Police.