Welcome to the LOUDEST DOT COM ON THE PLANET!
KNAC.COM News Reviews and More Watch The Latest Videos Buy KNAC T-shirts and More


London Lightens Up On Cannabis

By Sefany Jones, Contributing Editor
Thursday, March 14, 2002 @ 10:30 AM


London's Government Wants To L

- advertisement -
As reported by DrudgeReport.com:

LONDON (Reuters) - Medical experts gave the go-ahead Thursday for Britain to reclassify cannabis as low-risk in the latest in a series of moves relaxing attitudes toward soft drugs.

In a report to Home Secretary David Blunkett, medical experts from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs said all cannabis preparations should be downgraded to Class C -- the lowest risk grouping of controlled drugs. Classifying it as any higher risk was "disproportionate," the report said.

The downgrade would put cannabis, which the government estimates was used by more than 1.5 million 16- to 24-year-olds in Britain last year, in the same category as anabolic steroids and growth hormones.

The government stressed it had no plans to decriminalize cannabis and had made no final decisions on whether to reclassify the drug.

But it pointed to comments by Blunkett in October proposing the downgrading of cannabis to Class C from Class B -- a category which includes amphetamines -- and the removal of police powers of arrest for possession of small amounts of cannabis.

"We do not believe it would be right to decriminalize or legalize cannabis," a government spokesman said. "At the same time we do have to recognize that there is a need to refocus police effort on Class A drugs."

He said Class A drugs -- the most harmful category including ecstasy, cocaine and heroin -- accounted for 99 percent of "the cost to society of drug use."

Researchers said Wednesday that relaxing British cannabis laws could save around 50 million pounds ($71 million) a year and free up the equivalent of 500 police officers.

A study by the South Bank University's Criminal Policy Research Unit found that around 69,000 people were cautioned or convicted for cannabis possession in 1999, with police spending an average of four hours on each offense.

With most police officers operating in pairs, the study said 770,000 officer hours, or the time of 500 officers a year, were spent processing cannabis offenses.

Government data show the use of cannabis has increased dramatically over the past two decades. Long-term use of the drug among people aged between 20 to 24 in England and Wales rose from 12 percent in 1981 to 52 percent in 2000.

The government has also said it will decide by 2004-2005 whether to license cannabis-based products for medical use.

Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and other forms of severe pain have long been campaigning for the right to use legally prescribed cannabis-based drugs to help ease pain.


*****

As similar story as reported by ThisLondon.com:

Scientists today cleared the way for a softening of the law on cannabis, declaring that the drug "is not associated with major health problems for the individual or society".

The Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs found that while cannabis smokers can become dependent, the drug is not as addictive as tobacco or alcohol.

Although cannabis may pose risks for people with heart problems, or for schizophrenics, the dangers are not so great as in the case of other drugs such as amphetamine, say the scientists. In healthy young people, cannabis is even said to have a similar effect on the heart as exercise.

The findings are sure to dismay some anti-drugs campaigners who regard cannabis as a "gateway drug" which can lead users to experiment with harder substances, such as heroin.

At the moment, cannabis is a Class B drug, one rung down from cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, but on a par with amphetamine or "speed." In October, Home Secretary David Blunkett signalled his intention to downgrade cannabis to Class C alongside steroids and some sleeping pills - meaning that being caught with small amounts would no longer be an arrestable offence.

Today's advisory council report says cannabis is less harmful than other Class B drugs, adding: "The continuing juxtaposition of cannabis with these more harmful Class B drugs, erroneously ( and dangerously) suggests that their harmful effects are equivalent."

It makes clear that alcohol is far more damaging than cannabis to health and society at large because it encourages risk-taking and leads to aggressive and violent behaviour.

Today's report - always expected to support downgrading - is seen as the next step toward the biggest change in the drugs laws for more than 30 years.

Both the Commons and the Lords will have to debate and vote on the issue before the law can be changed and the Home Secretary will wait until he has read two more key reports before he asks Parliament to look at the question.

First, he wants to see a study of the Metropolitan Police's Lambeth experiment where people caught with cannabis have been let off with a warning and simply had the drug confiscated. Then he will read the home affairs select committee's wide-ranging report on the Government's drugs policies.

A Home Office source said any change in the law would come "in the summer at the earliest." It would still be possible to go to jail for dealing in cannabis, but people caught with small amounts for personal use would likely face only confiscation and a formal warning.


Back to Top

 

 

 Recent News
NEW CONTEST: Win Tickets To See THE DEAD DAISIES In San Diego On June 19th!
SABATON's The Tour To End All Tours Concert Film Comes To Cinemas
NILE Unveil First New Album In Five Years, The Underworld Awaits Us All
DAYSEEKER Announce Fall 2024 Headline "Dayseeker: Dark Sun Protocol Tour"
KISSIN' DYNAMITE Debut "The Devil Is A Woman" Video
SIGNS OF THE SWARM Announce North American Headlining Tour
ECLIPSE Shares New Single, Video For "Falling To My Knees"
ILLDISPOSED Return With New Album In Chambers Of Sonic Disgust
ASKING ALEXANDRIA Announce Second Leg Of "All My Friends" North American Tour
BLACKTOP MOJO Drop New Video For "As The Light Fades"
STEEL PANTHER Announces Final Leg OF U.S. "On The Prowl Tour"
THE HELLACOPTERS Debut New Video For "Stay With You"
JANE'S ADDICTION, LOVE AND ROCKETS Announce 2024 Tour
MISTER MISERY Reveal New Self-Titled Album
AS I LAY DYING Releases First New Single, Video In Five Years, "Burden"
BLACKMORE'S NIGHT Return To The Stage In June And July
NIGHTWISH Drop First Single, Video For "Perfume Of The Timeless"
ORBIT CULTURE Announces 2024 Headline Tour Dates Around SLIPKNOT 25th Anniversary Tour
SUNBOMB, Featuring TRACII GUNS & MICHAEL SWEET, Share Second Single "Steel Hearts"
WORMWITCH Return With New Self-Titled Album, First Single "The Helm And The Bow" Streaming
RORSCHACH TEST Celebrates Goth Day With "Fallen" Lyric Video
ROCKLAHOMA Announces Single Day Lineup For 2024
AXEL RUDI PELL Drops New Video For "Darkest Hour"
BRING ME THE HORIZON Surprise Release New Album Post Human: NeX GEn
NONPOINT Release New Video For "Underdog"
RICHIE KOTZEN Announces U.S. Tour Dates For Fall
D-A-D Announce Brand New Album Speed Of Darkness
W.A.S.P. Announce 2024 'Album ONE Alive' World Tour, Playing Debut Album In Full
NERVOSA Announce North American Headline Tour
MR. BIG Ready New Studio Album Ten
BLACKLIST UNION Unleash "Horns And Halos" Video
ANCIIENTS Return With New Album Beyond The Reach Of The Sun
SEVENDUST Announces Seasons Anniversary Tour
SILENT THEORY Unveil New Album Tell Us How It Ends
THE WARNING Stream New Single "Burnout"
VICTORY Return With New Album Circle Of Life
NOTHING MORE Announce Headlining 'Carnal Tour 2024'
DYSTOPICA Release First Full-Length Album Infinite Reflection
JESSE JAMES DUPREE Shares New Video For "Stranded"
DIZASTERPIECE Releases New Album Zzonebound [QRX4-Notion]
POWERWOLF Releases New Video For "1589"
PALLBEARER Drops New Album Mind Burns Alive
RAT PAK RECORDS Releases 20 Year Anniversary Compilation Album
CRYSTAL VIPER Drop New Album Title Track Video For "The Silver Key"
ORDEN OGAN Unveil New Album The Order of Fear
ALL FOR METAL Share "Valkyries In The Sky" Video, Featuring LAURA GULDEMOND Of BURNING WITCHES
GOATWHORE Announces North American Headlining Tour
SEBASTIAN BACH Releases New Video For "Freedom"
CHARLOTTE WESSELS Reveals Details For New Album The Obsession
NIGHT LASER Release "Don't Call Me Hero" Video
GEEZER BUTLER Set For Paperback Edition Of Book Into The Void: From Birth To Black Sabbath-And Beyond
Second Annual METAL INJECTION FESTIVAL Announced
SAINT DIABLO Share "Voice On The Phone" Single, Video
LORNA SHORE Announces North American Headline Tour
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS Drop New Video For "Monsters"
MARK TREMONTI Announces December Solo Dates
HANABIE. Debut New Video For "Girl's Talk"
X Announce 'The End Is Near' Tour
ANVIL Stream New Single "Truth Is Dying"
SOULFLY 'Healer' Coffee Coming Soon Via Concept Cafes
BAD WOLVES Launch New Video For "Hungry For Life", Featuring CHRIS DAUGHTRY
SERIOUS BLACK Ready New Studio Album Rise Of Akhenaton
LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES Share "Over The Garden Wall" Video
GHOST Launch Trailer For Debut Feature Film Rite Here Rite Now
BARONESS, GRAVEYARD Team Up For European Tour
2024 NEW ENGLAND METAL & HARDCORE FEST Announces More Performers
CARMINE APPICE Rebuilds Legendary Rock Band CACTUS With Powerful New All-Star Album
KING 810 Announce New Indie Film, Tour
AMORPHIS, DARK TRANQUILLITY Confirm North American Co-Headline Tour
JAMEY JASTA & Company Unleash JASTA Music Video For New Song, "Suicidality", Ft. PHI DEMMEL
DEATH TO ALL Share "Suicide Machine" Video
BEARTOOTH Announce Second Leg Of 'The Surface Tour'
FALLING IN REVERSE Unveil New Album Popular Monster
KK'S PRIEST, ACCEPT Join For North American Tour
DECIBEL Announces '20th Anniversary Show'
1349 Stream New Single "Ash of Ages"
THE SISTERS OF MERCY Announce North American Fall Tour
THE HU Announce Extended Live Album The Hu Live At Glastonbury
BEASTO BLANCO Drop New Video For "Lowlands"
CATEGORY 7 Set To Release Debut Self-Titled Album
DORTMUND DEATHFEST Reveals Full 2024 Lineup
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Unveil New Album I Am The Weapon
KINGS OF THRASH Announce 'Anarchy In The UK' Tour
ALL THAT REMAINS Return With "Divine" Video
NIGHTWISH Return With New Album Yesterwynde
ARMORED SAINT Announce L.A. Hometown Headline Show
GHOST Set To Release Debut Feature Film, Rite Here Rite Now, To Cinemas Worldwide
HAMMERFALL Reveal New Album Avenge The Fallen
SLIPKNOT Announce 'Here Comes The Pain' Summer Tour
THE DEAD DAISIES Unveil New Album, Single, Tour
DARKTHRONE Stream New Single "The Bird People Of Nordland"
70000TONS OF METAL Announces First Bands For 2025
NIGHT LASER Set For Call Me What You Want Album
RICHIE SAMBORA Returns With "I Pray" Single
TESTAMENT, KREATOR Join For "Klash Of The Titans" 2024 North American Tour
SAXON Share Lyric Video For "Witches Of Salem"
2024 SUMMER SLAUGHTER Tour Announced, Co-Headlined By VEIL OF MAYA And BRAND OF SACRIFICE
SEBASTIAN BACH Launches Video For New Single "(Hold On) To The Dream"
NARCOTIC WASTELAND Announces 2024 Summer Tour Dates
THE WARNING Release Cinematic Video For "Que Mas Quieres"
KITTIE Announce Exclusive Run Headline Shows On The 'Fire 2024' Tour
ACCEPT Stream New Single "Frankenstein"
200 STAB WOUNDS Return With Manual Manic Procedures Album
KURT DEIMER Confirms New Tour Dates With TEXAS HIPPIE COALTION
STAIND Launch Animated Video For Track "Better Days", Featuring DOROTHY
WEEDEATER Announce More Spring/Summer Shows
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS Are "Seeking Vengeance" With New Video
OPETH Announces North American Headlining Tour
LEAGUE OF DISTORTION Release "My Hate Will Go On" Video
EVERCLEAR Announces Fall Headlining Tour
DEAD MAN'S HAND Release Second Single, Video For "Bobblehead Jesus"
ZEAL & ARDOR Set For With New Album Greif
LACUNA COIL Share New Video "In The Mean Time", Featuring ASH COSTELLO Of NEW YEARS DAY
BARONESS Announce U.S. Summer Tour
FROZEN SOUL Drop WHITE ZOMBIE Cover Video For "Creature Of The Wheel"
SUNBOMB, Featuring MICHAEL SWEET And TRACII GUNS, Set To Release Sophomore Album Light Up The Sky
BABYLON A.D. Unleash "Wrecking Machine" Video
Current, Former Members Of ICE NINE KILLS And FROM ASHES TO NEW Form New Band HILLHAVEN
Former DISCIPLES OF BABYLON Singer ERIC KNIGHT Releases First Solo Single "Out Of This World"
GWAR Announces 'Age of Entitlement Tour'
MILLENIAL REIGN Ready New Album World On Fire
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE Return With New Video For Single "Chaotic"
MEGADETH Announce Summer 'Destroy All Enemies' Tour
ECLIPSE Unleashes New Video For "Apocalypse Blues"
Official, Special, Limited Edition, KNAC Heritage Item On Sale Now!



HOME | MAGAZINE | VIDS | STORE | HELP/POLICIES

©2024 KNAC.COM. All Rights Reserved.    Link to us    Advertise with us    Privacy policy
 Latest News