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| Police drugs lead 'impressed' by cannabis clubs | Police drugs lead 'impressed' by cannabis clubs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A police boss with responsibility for drug abuse has said he is "impressed" by cannabis clubs. | A police boss with responsibility for drug abuse has said he is "impressed" by cannabis clubs. |
| Hardyal Dhindsa, who is the lead on substance abuse for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, has said the war on drugs is not working. | Hardyal Dhindsa, who is the lead on substance abuse for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, has said the war on drugs is not working. |
| He said it was time to look at other ways of tackling drug addiction and use. | He said it was time to look at other ways of tackling drug addiction and use. |
| A Home Office spokesman said the government has no plans to decriminalise recreational cannabis. | A Home Office spokesman said the government has no plans to decriminalise recreational cannabis. |
| Decriminalisation or legalisation would send the "wrong message", he said, adding: "Scientific and medical evidence is clear that recreational cannabis use can cause harm to individuals and society." | Decriminalisation or legalisation would send the "wrong message", he said, adding: "Scientific and medical evidence is clear that recreational cannabis use can cause harm to individuals and society." |
| Mr Dhindsa, who is also the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Derbyshire, had previously met three people involved in cannabis clubs to discuss how they worked. | Mr Dhindsa, who is also the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Derbyshire, had previously met three people involved in cannabis clubs to discuss how they worked. |
| Cannabis is currently a Class B drug, with jail sentences of up to five years for possession and up to 14 years for supply. | |
| There are about 140 cannabis clubs in the UK - but it is thought only about 25 or so are active. | There are about 140 cannabis clubs in the UK - but it is thought only about 25 or so are active. |
| While insisting he did not support cannabis clubs and did not condone criminal behaviour, Mr Dhindsa said he felt years of enforcement had not stopped drug supply and use. | While insisting he did not support cannabis clubs and did not condone criminal behaviour, Mr Dhindsa said he felt years of enforcement had not stopped drug supply and use. |
| "As with tobacco, education and regulation is a much better way of making a difference," he said. | "As with tobacco, education and regulation is a much better way of making a difference," he said. |
| Mr Dhindsa said he was "impressed" by the clubs' self-regulation. | Mr Dhindsa said he was "impressed" by the clubs' self-regulation. |
| "What impressed me was that they are offering support, it is regulated, they have got a membership," he said. | "What impressed me was that they are offering support, it is regulated, they have got a membership," he said. |
| "They are not allowing people to make profit out of this and allowing for personal use, which many people do in this country irrespective of what the law is. | "They are not allowing people to make profit out of this and allowing for personal use, which many people do in this country irrespective of what the law is. |
| "But I think we need to have a grown-up and sensible discussion about why people continue to use drugs and demand has not gone down." | "But I think we need to have a grown-up and sensible discussion about why people continue to use drugs and demand has not gone down." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |