In UK, cannabis users face fines again

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

London

Oct. 14: The Labour government has finally reclassified cannabis as Class B drug in Britain after Prime Minister Gordon Brown had identified the issue as one of his government's priorities on taking over as the Premier in 2007.

The reclassification will come into effect from January 26, 2008. In 2004, cannabis had been downgraded to class C, which includes drugs such as anabolic steroids, from more serious class B, which includes amphetamines.

Repeat cannabis offenders will face tougher penalties from now on: People caught carrying cannabis for a second time could now face an on-the-spot fine of £80 instead of a warning, home secretary Jacqui Smith said. First offence could get a cannabis warning and third offence could lead to arrest.

Reclassification is a preventative measure to protect the public. Cannabis is a harmful drug and poses a real risk to health of those who use it.

The stronger strains, such as skunk, that now dominate the illegal UK cannabis market may increase mental health problems, especially if young people start to use at an early age or "binge smoke," the home office said.

"While cannabis has always been illegal, reclassifying it to a Class B drug reinforces our message to everyone that it is harmful and should not be taken. Fewer people are taking cannabis, but it is crucial that this trend continues. I am extremely concerned about the use of stronger strains of cannabis, such as skunk, and the harm they can cause to mental health," Ms Smith said.

Reiterating that criminalising people unnecessarily was not the aim of the government, Ms Smith said proposed new escalation of penalties will ensure the police and courts have a range of sanctions at their disposal so that the punishment is proportionate to the offence.

The parliamentary order has been listed in the House of Commons order paper and changing cannabis classification will involve debates in both Houses before being submitted to the Privy Council for approval and subsequent implementation.