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Cannabis classification in the United Kingdom

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Example of a cannabis joint.

Cannabis classification in the United Kingdom refers to the class of drugs, as determined by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, that cannabis is placed in. Between 1928 and 2004 it was classified as a class B drug. 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. Arrest would still be possible for distribution, however.[1] Reclassification had the support of the majority of the public, with surveys at the time finding that 49% of British adults supported cannabis decriminalisation, 36% were against, and 15% were undecided.[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 stated that the reclassification of cannabis to class C had the desired effect, with arrests for cannabis possession falling by one third in the first year following, saving an estimated 199,000 police hours.[4] When the change was introduced, there were several attempts to establish Dutch-style Cannabis coffee shops.[citation needed]

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

Return to class B

Early in January 2006 Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that on the basis of advice from the Advisory Council, a decision was made not to return cannabis to class B.[5] However, during Prime Minister's Questions on 18 July 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, was reviewing again whether to return cannabis to class B status.[6][7] On 7 May 2008, Smith confirmed that cannabis in the UK would again be classified as a class B drug, despite the Advisory Council's recommendation.[8] On 26 January 2009, cannabis was reclassified as a class B drug.[9] The reclassification of cannabis to a class B drug had been hinted at as early as 2005 by allies of Gordon Brown, on the election night in 2005, Ed Balls stated that cannabis and the war in Iraq were mistakes that the Labour party had to learn from.[10] After the controversial sacking of Professor David Nutt (Chief scientific advisor to the government), five other members of the council resigned in protest.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ See Blunkett to focus on the menace of hard drugs, Home Office Press Release 255/2001, 23 October 2001.
  2. ^ {{cite news|publisher=[[BBC News]|title=Cannabis: Time to change the law?|date=2001-02-06|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1154996.stm%7Cauthor=Peter Gould}}
  3. ^ The Police Foundation (1999). "Drugs and the Law: Report of the independent inquiry into The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Home office press (2005). "Cannabis reclassification". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "UK | UK Politics | Cannabis will remain class C drug". BBC News. 2006-01-19. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  6. ^ Cannabis May Be Reclassified As Class B Sky News 18 July 2007
  7. ^ "UK | UK Politics | Cannabis laws set to be reviewed". BBC News. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  8. ^ The Press Association: Smith snubs experts over cannabis [dead link]
  9. ^ Jason-Lloyd, Leonard (2009). "Cannabis Reclassification 2009". Criminal Law & Justice Weekly. 173: 30.
  10. ^ Sare, Jeremy (2 November 2009). "Labour is in denial over cannabis row". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  11. ^ Whitehead, Tom (10 November 2009). Three more drug advisers quit over David Nutt sacking. The Daily Telegraph.

External links

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