http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news...ange-ludicrous

Date published: 26/01/2009

The Government's decision to upgrade cannabis to 'Class B' status has
been branded as ludicrous by North West MEP Chris Davies.

Mr Davies said the change took no account of evidence, ignored
comments by expert advisors, and risked ruining the lives of thousands
of young people.

Possession of cannabis will, from today, command a maximum penalty of
five years imprisonment, although police officers will be invited to
issue on-the-spot fines to first time offenders.

But Davies describes the policy as hopelessly confused and says it
will prove ineffective.

"Five years ago the Government followed the advice of its advisors
that cannabis presented too few dangers to warrant its status and
downgraded it to Class C," he said. "Since then its use amongst young
people has fallen by more than 20%.

"Now in the face of this success the criminal penalties are being
raised against the advice of the Advisory Council on Drugs Misuse. It
makes no sense at all!

The MEP claims that cannabis presents many less dangers than alcohol,
and he warns that the change in law will make criminals of individuals
who have done no harm to anybody.

He said: "Ten years ago more than 40,000 people were people arrested
each year for cannabis possession, and a significant number were
imprisoned. Lives were ruined for no good purpose.

"Drugs policy in Britain is a farce. It puts huge sums of money into
the hands of real villains, while branding decent people as
criminals."

Davies has called for a reappraisal of government strategy, with drugs
use being treated as a matter not for the courts but for public
health.

© Rochdale Online - all rights reserved.

[ObYank: What's an MEP?]

Noticed at Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:22:19 -0800: M_P informed us:

> ObYank: What's an MEP?

Member of the European Parliament.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_...ean_Parliament