Oxfordshire
Cannabis move sparks crackdown
CANNABIS smokers in Oxfordshire are being warned they face a tougher crackdown from police.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that cannabis would be reclassified from a class-C drug to class-B, subject to Parliamentary approval.
County police chiefs will now review how their officers tackle cannabis users ahead of the reclassification being approved.
A user in Oxfordshire can be caught with a small amount of cannabis deemed for personal use three times before they receive a criminal conviction.
Earlier this year Oxfordshire drugs co-ordinator PC Leigh Thompson said he wanted cannabis reclassified.
He said: "The type of skunk cannabis on the street is now so strong it needs to be reclassified - and I fully support the Home Secretary. Our policies for tackling people with cannabis will now change, although we have always targeted any form of drug dealing, whether class A, B or C."
Possession of a class-B drug can lead to a five-year jail sentence, compared to just two years for a class-C drug.
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris said the Government's decision to ignore the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which wanted cannabis to remain as a class-C drug, was "absurd".
He added: "The only message this decision sends out is that Government drug classification policy is not credible and is based on macho posturing, rather than evidence of what works."
6:23am Friday 9th May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Rob, Wantage on 11:40am Fri 9 May 08
So while the police are getting the weed off the streets, the harder stuff will be knocked out, legalise it and stop the class A drugs from getting on the street
So while the police are getting the weed off the streets, the harder stuff will be knocked out, legalise it and stop the class A drugs from getting on the street
Posted by: Legalize cannabis for adults, Oxford on 12:46pm Fri 9 May 08
Drink-related deaths among 15 to 34-year-olds have increased by almost 60 per cent since 1991. The Office for National Statistics said 198 men and 89 women in this age group died from alcohol poisoning or cirrhosis of the liver in 2004.
How many young people died from cannabis in 2004? [italic]NONE[/italic] . [bold]Cannabis does not kill people. Alcohol does.[/bold]
The government is well aware that the harm caused by cannabis is miniscule compared to the harm caused by alcohol (less than 1 in 5000 users will have their pre-existing tendency towards schizophrenia exacerbated - not caused, exacerbated - by cannabis) and yet alcohol is legal and freely available.
Why? There's a very simple reason: Taxes. It's not possible for the government to tax cannabis because everyone can grown their own (which neatly eliminates every penny of profit for drug dealers).
The government doesn't give two hoots about the health of young people - it cares about staying in power (by pretending to care about young people) and getting money. If it really cared about the health of young people it would make the sale of alcohol a criminal offence. Of course we all know Prohibition doesn't work for alcohol - so why on Earth do they expect it to work for cannabis?
Drink-related deaths among 15 to 34-year-olds have increased by almost 60 per cent since 1991. The Office for National Statistics said 198 men and 89 women in this age group died from alcohol poisoning or cirrhosis of the liver in 2004.
How many young people died from cannabis in 2004?
NONE .
Cannabis does not kill people. Alcohol does.
The government is well aware that the harm caused by cannabis is miniscule compared to the harm caused by alcohol (less than 1 in 5000 users will have their pre-existing tendency towards schizophrenia exacerbated - not caused, exacerbated - by cannabis) and yet alcohol is legal and freely available.
Why? There's a very simple reason: Taxes. It's not possible for the government to tax cannabis because everyone can grown their own (which neatly eliminates every penny of profit for drug dealers).
The government doesn't give two hoots about the health of young people - it cares about staying in power (by pretending to care about young people) and getting money. If it really cared about the health of young people it would make the sale of alcohol a criminal offence. Of course we all know Prohibition doesn't work for alcohol - so why on Earth do they expect it to work for cannabis?
Posted by: anon, oxford on 3:15pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]Legalize cannabis for adults[/bold] wrote:
Drink-related deaths among 15 to 34-year-olds have increased by almost 60 per cent since 1991. The Office for National Statistics said 198 men and 89 women in this age group died from alcohol poisoning or cirrhosis of the liver in 2004. How many young people died from cannabis in 2004? [italic]NONE[/italic] . [bold]Cannabis does not kill people. Alcohol does.[/bold] The government is well aware that the harm caused by cannabis is miniscule compared to the harm caused by alcohol (less than 1 in 5000 users will have their pre-existing tendency towards schizophrenia exacerbated - not caused, exacerbated - by cannabis) and yet alcohol is legal and freely available. Why? There's a very simple reason: Taxes. It's not possible for the government to tax cannabis because everyone can grown their own (which neatly eliminates every penny of profit for drug dealers). The government doesn't give two hoots about the health of young people - it cares about staying in power (by pretending to care about young people) and getting money. If it really cared about the health of young people it would make the sale of alcohol a criminal offence. Of course we all know Prohibition doesn't work for alcohol - so why on Earth do they expect it to work for cannabis?[/quote] uh huh
and how many of these stoners get in their cars and drive around?
probably on the way to a tesco express or McD's for some munchies.
a lot apparently...and it's just as dangerous as drink driving
People can grow their own tobacco too..and brew their own booze.....
dur
Legalize cannabis for adults wrote:
Drink-related deaths among 15 to 34-year-olds have increased by almost 60 per cent since 1991. The Office for National Statistics said 198 men and 89 women in this age group died from alcohol poisoning or cirrhosis of the liver in 2004. How many young people died from cannabis in 2004? NONE . Cannabis does not kill people. Alcohol does. The government is well aware that the harm caused by cannabis is miniscule compared to the harm caused by alcohol (less than 1 in 5000 users will have their pre-existing tendency towards schizophrenia exacerbated - not caused, exacerbated - by cannabis) and yet alcohol is legal and freely available. Why? There's a very simple reason: Taxes. It's not possible for the government to tax cannabis because everyone can grown their own (which neatly eliminates every penny of profit for drug dealers). The government doesn't give two hoots about the health of young people - it cares about staying in power (by pretending to care about young people) and getting money. If it really cared about the health of young people it would make the sale of alcohol a criminal offence. Of course we all know Prohibition doesn't work for alcohol - so why on Earth do they expect it to work for cannabis?
uh huh
and how many of these stoners get in their cars and drive around?
probably on the way to a tesco express or McD's for some munchies.
a lot apparently...and it's just as dangerous as drink driving
People can grow their own tobacco too..and brew their own booze.....
dur
Posted by: Legalize cannabis for adults on 3:45pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote]and how many of these stoners get in their cars and drive around?
probably on the way to a tesco express or McD's for some munchies.
a lot apparently...and it's just as dangerous as drink driving[/quote]
Erm, no - in fact the largest study ever done linking road accidents with drugs and alcohol showed drivers who had smoked marijuana were marginally [italic]less likely to have an accident than those who were drug-free[/italic] . cannabisculture.com/
news/driving
[quote]People can grow their own tobacco too..and brew their own booze.....[/quote]
Theoretically yes - but a tobacco plant will produce at most enough for 125 cigarettes (lasting a whole week for a heavy smoker), while a still is difficult to set up, dangerous to run, and the end product could easily kill you. Meanwhile a single cannabis plant can produce enough to last a reasonably heavy smoker several months.
and how many of these stoners get in their cars and drive around?
probably on the way to a tesco express or McD's for some munchies.
a lot apparently...and it's just as dangerous as drink driving
Erm, no - in fact the largest study ever done linking road accidents with drugs and alcohol showed drivers who had smoked marijuana were marginally
less likely to have an accident than those who were drug-free . cannabisculture.com/
news/driving
People can grow their own tobacco too..and brew their own booze.....
Theoretically yes - but a tobacco plant will produce at most enough for 125 cigarettes (lasting a whole week for a heavy smoker), while a still is difficult to set up, dangerous to run, and the end product could easily kill you. Meanwhile a single cannabis plant can produce enough to last a reasonably heavy smoker several months.
Posted by: Legalize cannabis for adults on 3:46pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote]and how many of these stoners get in their cars and drive around?
probably on the way to a tesco express or McD's for some munchies.
a lot apparently...and it's just as dangerous as drink driving[/quote]
Erm, no - in fact the largest study ever done linking road accidents with drugs and alcohol showed drivers who had smoked marijuana were marginally [italic]less likely to have an accident than those who were drug-free[/italic] . cannabisculture.com/
news/driving
[quote]People can grow their own tobacco too..and brew their own booze.....[/quote]
Theoretically yes - but a tobacco plant will produce at most enough for 125 cigarettes (lasting a whole week for a heavy smoker), while a still is difficult to set up, dangerous to run, and the end product could easily kill you. Meanwhile a single cannabis plant can produce enough to last a reasonably heavy smoker several months.
and how many of these stoners get in their cars and drive around?
probably on the way to a tesco express or McD's for some munchies.
a lot apparently...and it's just as dangerous as drink driving
Erm, no - in fact the largest study ever done linking road accidents with drugs and alcohol showed drivers who had smoked marijuana were marginally
less likely to have an accident than those who were drug-free . cannabisculture.com/
news/driving
People can grow their own tobacco too..and brew their own booze.....
Theoretically yes - but a tobacco plant will produce at most enough for 125 cigarettes (lasting a whole week for a heavy smoker), while a still is difficult to set up, dangerous to run, and the end product could easily kill you. Meanwhile a single cannabis plant can produce enough to last a reasonably heavy smoker several months.
Posted by: R, Oxford on 4:16pm Fri 9 May 08
Legalize cannabis for adults, forgive my ignorance but cannabis is smoked, isn't it? As surely then this also has the same health implications as a person who smokes regular cigarettes! So comparing it with the dangers of drink isn't really an arguement, is it?
Having said that I do agree it should be legalised and sold openly!
Legalize cannabis for adults, forgive my ignorance but cannabis is smoked, isn't it? As surely then this also has the same health implications as a person who smokes regular cigarettes! So comparing it with the dangers of drink isn't really an arguement, is it?
Having said that I do agree it should be legalised and sold openly!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
