Cannabis reclassification in the United Kingdom

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Cannabis reclassification in the United Kingdom refers to the transfer of cannabis[1] to a different Class of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. As Home Secretary in Tony Blair's Labour government, David Blunkett announced in 2001 that cannabis would be transferred from Class B of the Act to Class C, removing the threat of arrest for possession. This action was supported at the time by David Cameron, who is now leader of the Conservative Party. Arrest would still be possible for distribution, however[2]. The transfer eventually happened in January 2004, after Class C penalties for distribution had been stiffened. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs had recommended such a reclassification as early as 1979, a view endorsed by the Runciman Report[3] in 1999.

The change was designed to enable police forces to concentrate resources on other (more serious) offences, including those involving "harder drugs". The Government has argued that the reclassification of cannabis has had the desired effect, with arrests for cannabis possession falling by one third in the first year since reclassification, saving an estimated 199,000 police hours. When the change was introduced there were several attempts to establish Dutch-style cannabis cafes. Mostly, however, these have failed. The new law creates no real protection or respectabilty for such establishments and police action has forced their closure.

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, which was enacted on 1 January 2006, abolished the concept of an 'Arrestable Offence' by making all offences arrestable. This has meant that people may once again be arrested for possession of cannabis in the United Kingdom.

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In 2003, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) criticised the United Kingdom for considering reclassification of cannabis. The INCB's annual report warned that:

The reclassification of cannabis by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Briton [sic] and Northern Ireland would undermine the efforts of the Governments of African countries to counter illicit cannabis cultivation, trafficking, and abuse.

Philip O. Emafo, INCB chairman, said:

It is important that consensus prevails in international drug control. No government should take unilateral measures without considering the impact of its actions and ultimately the consequences for an entire system that took governments almost a century to establish.

During the 2005 general election, Tony Blair announced that the reclassification of cannabis would be reviewed in light of new scientific research, and the issue was referred to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Early in January 2006 Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that on the basis of advice from the Advisory Council, a decision has been made not to reclassify Cannabis to Class B. [1]

  1. ^ Cannabis is primarily a herb or plant but, generally, UK law treats the herb itself as a drug, whether or not a particular specimen or variety has real drug potential, or is grown for drug purposes. The Home Office takes the view that special licences are needed (issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act) when the herb is grown for non-drug purposes, even when the variety of cannabis used is unlikely to produce any real drug material. (Non-drug purposes include production of hemp fibre).
  2. ^ See Blunkett to focus on the menace of hard drugs, Home Office Press Release 255/2001, 23 October 2001.
  3. ^ The Police Foundation. "Drugs and the Law: Report of the independent inquiry into The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971".

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