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PM 'stands by stance on cannabis' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Downing St has signalled that Gordon Brown remains determined to tighten the law on cannabis - against the advice of an independent panel of experts. | |
BBC News has been told that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs believes that cannabis should remain in the lowest category, Class C. | |
But the prime minister's spokesman said such reports were premature. | |
He said the PM stood by earlier remarks about the need to signal that cannabis use was illegal and unacceptable. | |
Report later | |
The council - the official body which advises the government on drugs policy - was asked by the government to review cannabis's legal status amid concerns over stronger forms of it. | |
Its decision leaves the government in an awkward position, said BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw. | |
If the government went ahead and reclassified cannabis to class B, ministers would be rejecting the findings of the council's panel of 23 drug experts - which has never happened before on a decision about drug classification. | |
The council's chairman Professor Sir Michael Rawlins refused to confirm or deny a decision, and said a report would be sent to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith later this month. | The council's chairman Professor Sir Michael Rawlins refused to confirm or deny a decision, and said a report would be sent to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith later this month. |
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she would not comment on the review until she had received it. | |
The prime minister's spokesman said: "As we understand it, this report is based on one presentation that was given to a meeting. The advisory council themselves are still some way away from reaching final conclusions. | |
"As to what the prime minister thinks, he made that fairly clear in the press conference earlier this week." | |
University study | University study |
The decision was taken at a private meeting of the council, which discussed significant new research from Keele University about links between cannabis and mental illness, our correspondent said. | |
The study found nothing to support a theory that rising cannabis use in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s led to increases in the incidence of schizophrenia later on. | The study found nothing to support a theory that rising cannabis use in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s led to increases in the incidence of schizophrenia later on. |
MAXIMUM DRUG PENALTIES Class A: Seven years for possession, life for supplyingClass B: Five years for possession, 14 for supplyingClass C: Two years for possession, 14 for supplying Cannabis was downgraded from a class B drug to class C in January 2004. | |
The move was designed to free up police time and allow officers to concentrate on tackling harder drugs. | The move was designed to free up police time and allow officers to concentrate on tackling harder drugs. |
Adults found carrying cannabis are unlikely to be arrested, and young people are most likely to be arrested and reprimanded. | Adults found carrying cannabis are unlikely to be arrested, and young people are most likely to be arrested and reprimanded. |
Possession of the class C drug does carry a maximum penalty of a two-year prison sentence, but this is rarely served. People found to be carrying a class B drug can be given up to a five-year sentence. | Possession of the class C drug does carry a maximum penalty of a two-year prison sentence, but this is rarely served. People found to be carrying a class B drug can be given up to a five-year sentence. |
Young people are literally dicing with their minds and futures Marjorie Wallace, Sane | Young people are literally dicing with their minds and futures Marjorie Wallace, Sane |
Former government drugs advisor Keith Hellawell said the government should never have reclassified cannabis to class C. | |
He said the move created confusion for police, teachers, parents and young people by sending out the wrong message. | |
Police chiefs want cannabis to return to class B. | |
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it stood by its recommendation made to the Advisory Council that cannabis should be restored to the category of a class B drug. | |
But Steve Rolles, of the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, said increasing jail sentences from two years to five through reclassification was not the best way to send a strong signal to teenagers about the dangers of the drug. | |
"Rather than mass criminalisation of millions of young people, the best way would be to invest in effective, targeted public health education," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "Rather than mass criminalisation of millions of young people, the best way would be to invest in effective, targeted public health education," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
HAVE YOUR SAYLet adults make their own minds up, I choose to smoke cannabis and will continue to do so, regardless of classification Gadge, North TynesideSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYLet adults make their own minds up, I choose to smoke cannabis and will continue to do so, regardless of classification Gadge, North TynesideSend us your comments |
Mental health charity Sane was one group which gave evidence to the advisory group. | Mental health charity Sane was one group which gave evidence to the advisory group. |
Marjorie Wallace, the charity's chief executive, said not enough was yet known about the direct links between cannabis and the brain. | Marjorie Wallace, the charity's chief executive, said not enough was yet known about the direct links between cannabis and the brain. |
She said she knew of hundreds of cases where people smoked cannabis heavily, in particular skunk, and went on to suffer psychotic breakdowns, hallucinations and paranoia. | She said she knew of hundreds of cases where people smoked cannabis heavily, in particular skunk, and went on to suffer psychotic breakdowns, hallucinations and paranoia. |