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Cannabis users and growers fear crackdown against attempts to decriminalise the drug Police chief's call to decriminalise people who grow small amounts of cannabis met with warm response from campaigners
(about 2 hours later)
Cannabis users and growers in the United Kingdom fear the Home Office will begin a crack-down against any police force attempting to decriminalise the drug, after a north-east police commissioner said his officers would no longer prosecute those growing the substance for personal use. The decision by Durham’s police and crime commissioner to effectively decriminalise people who grow small amounts of cannabis in their homes met with a warm response form drugs reform campaigners yesterday.
Although there was widespread praise by pro-cannabis activists for the shift towards ending the criminal prosecution of small-scale growers announced by Durham’s police commissioner, Ron Hogg, internet forums were sceptical about Theresa May allowing other police forces in England and Wales to follow. Ron Hogg’s policy of de-prioritising the prosecution of small-scale growers earned criticism in some quarters, but was welcomed by those who argue that Britain’s current drug laws are failing.
Facebook and online discussions claimed “the powers that be” would immediately begin “kicking ass” to ensure “no county police force makes up its own rules.” Lord Paddick, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, called for police resources should be focused on going after dealers not those in possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use.
Although some Facebook exchanges discussed hopes that an “unjust law” would be eased and that “medicinal growers” would be left alone, others questioned whether the government would listen to any calls for further  decriminalisation. The Liberal Democrat peer repeated his party’s manifesto call for responsibility of drugs policy to be moved from the Home Office to the Department of Health, claiming “The war on drugs has failed and the Tories don’t know how to deal with it. Police resources should be focused on going after dealers, not those people in possession of small quantities of drugs. “
Despite Mr Hogg saying he expected other forces to follow Durham because they too not afford to waste scarce resources on the unnecessary prosecutions, many activist websites predicted the Home Secretary would “take less than a month” before the law was re-enforced and regional variations ended. Lord Paddick’s words were backed by Professor David Nutt of Imperial College, who has repeatedly clashed with government ministers on both the classification of dangerous drugs and how the law is used against users.
The former government advisor, who has worked on drugs policy  for the ministries of health, defence and the Home Office, said the current laws on the use of cannabis were not working.
Durham Police Commissioner Ron Hogg with Teeside cannabis activists in 2014 Calling on the government to look at how drugs policy worked in the Netherlands, Professor Nutt said “The police and the courts both hate how people are currently prosecuted for cannabis possession. The criminal law defence of necessity, where people claim an overwhelming urgency to break the law because of pain management and other issues, is no longer allowed.”
Professor Nutt said Mr Hogg’s comments may have been marshalled to protect officers in Durham police because they “faced making life and death decisions on prosecutions that were largely unnecessary.”
Professor David Nutt says there should be more research into the psychiatric benefits of recreational drugs Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst with the drug reform campaigners,Transform, said:  “There are other police authorities that are doing similar things but they are not shouting about it. As police forces face increasing cuts they will have to make these decisions.
“I do not see this as an ideological position but a resource issue, directing their limited resources towards where they are needed. From what I have seen the Ron Hogg approach does seem to be a growing sentiment.”
The criminal justice minister, Mike Penning, repeated that the government had no plans to ease or legalise cannabis laws, and that those found growing the drug, for whatever reason, would face jail sentences.
David Raynes, the political affairs director for the National Drug Prevention Alliance, which campaigns for a drug-free lifestyle, accused Mr Hogg, a former senior police officer, of “going rogue” and “playing political games on behalf of others who want to see drugs laws weakened.”David Raynes, the political affairs director for the National Drug Prevention Alliance, which campaigns for a drug-free lifestyle, accused Mr Hogg, a former senior police officer, of “going rogue” and “playing political games on behalf of others who want to see drugs laws weakened.”
Mr Raynes told The Independent : “Mr Hogg and his chief constable in Durham are not there to make the law, they are there to enforce it. Giving the green light to effective decriminalisation will only encourage a rise in the illegal growing of cannabis.”Mr Raynes told The Independent : “Mr Hogg and his chief constable in Durham are not there to make the law, they are there to enforce it. Giving the green light to effective decriminalisation will only encourage a rise in the illegal growing of cannabis.”
The criminal justice minister, Mike Penning, repeated that the government had no plans to ease or legalise cannabis laws, and that those found growing the drug, for whatever reason, would face jail sentences.
Durham Police Commissioner Ron Hogg with Teeside cannabis activists in 2014 That stance was criticised by the Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman, Lord Brian Paddick.
The former deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police said the government’s policy on drugs was failing. He said : “The war on drugs has failed and the Tories don’t know how to deal with it. Police resources should be focused on going after dealers, not those people in possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use. “
In May’s general election, the Liberal Democrat’s manifesto proposed that drug possession should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal matter.
Although Lord Paddick advocated a shift in responsibility for drugs policy from the Home Office to the Department of Health, this is unlikely to happen given the government’s firm rejection of Durham’s policy.
Professor David Nutt: current laws not working (BBC) Professor David Nutt of Imperial College, who has worked as a drug advisor for the ministries of health, defence and the Home Office, said the current laws on the use of cannabis was not working.
Calling on the government to look at how drugs policy worked in the Netherlands, Professor Nutt said “The police and the courts both hate how people are currently prosecuted for cannabis possession. The criminal law defence of necessity, where people claim an overwhelming urgency to break the law because of pain management and other issues, is no longer allowed.”
Professor Nutt said Mr Hogg may have been protecting officers in Durham police because they “faced making life and death decisions on prosecutions that were largely unnecessary.”
Greg De Hoedt, president of the United Kingdom cannabis social clubs, said government policy was currently “contributing to the growth of criminal gangs” engaged in cultivation of the drug.
 “There’s never been a shred of evidence that seizing a few grams of personal-use cannabis or a few plants has ever been effective in stopping its flow,” he said.