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You are in Library / Class
C / Great Class C debate Home
Secretary plans to reclassify cannabis to class C23rd
October 2001 Sky
news report (MP3 audio) - click here
Legalise Cannabis Alliance Press Release - click here
Green
Party Press Release - Click here
Home Secretary's evidence to the Select Committee 23/10/01 - click here
Cannabis
is to become a class C drug, rather than a class B that it is now. That means
it's still going to be illegal and potentially criminal, but non-arrestable and
therefore ignorable. This
is the most important move in drugs policy for 30 years, for the first time we
have turned away from the mantra of ever stronger and more repressive laws. Possession
of cannabis will no longer be an arrestable offence because it attracts a penalty
of less than five years. This
is a small move and goes nowhere near far enough to address the situation, but
at least it's a start and an acknowledgment that the drugs laws we've been suffering
for so long have failed.
Class
CThe
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 establishes 3 categories of drugs, A, B and C. Class
C is the least serious category and includes Methaqualone, tranquillisers (but
not temazepam), most Anabolic Steroids and Cathinone. Maximum
penalties for class C drugs are:
Magistrates court: 3 months & a £500 fine, crown court 2 years & an unlimited
fine Supply
or trafficking: Magistrates 3 months & a £2000 fine, crown 5 years & an unlimited
fine |
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law as it is has shown itself to be no deterrent to use, reducing the penalties
mean it will be even less of a deterrent. The prison walls of prohibition are
cracking, but the fight's not over. It
isn't clear yet what effect this will have on the law regarding growing or allowing
the use of cannabis on your premises, but making cannabis class C should allow
venues to tolerate cannabis use. | Is
Cannabis a gateway? The
prohibitionists are warning that relaxing the cannabis laws will cause an increase
in hard drug use - the "gateway" or "progression" theory. Is
there any truth in this? Click here |
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