cannabisnews.com: British Cops Issue Marijuana Report British Cops Issue Marijuana Report Posted by FoM on January 22, 2002 at 16:31:29 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press A pilot program relaxing curbs on marijuana in a London district has attracted users to the area and increased the use of hard drugs, a senior policeman said Tuesday. Under the program, which began in July, people in Lambeth in south London found with small amounts of marijuana are not arrested, but receive a warning. Police say the policy saves hours of paperwork, freeing up time to fight hard drugs and violent crime in the inner-city neighborhood. But Fred Broughton, chairman of the Police Federation, said Tuesday that the pilot scheme didn't appear to be reducing the use of drugs in the area as had been hoped. ``The reverse seems to be true,'' he said. Broughton, whose organization represents 126,000 police officers, said the program apparently gave some residents, including children, the impression that the authorities condone the use of marijuana, called cannabis in Britain. ``The change in procedures is encouraging more people to come to that area and more people are involving themselves in cannabis,'' Broughton told lawmakers in the House of Commons. He also said that crack abusers and crack dealers are becoming more visible and more active. The six-month program was due to end Dec. 31, but police continued it while they await two reports assessing its success. Scotland Yard says they will then decide whether to scrap the policy or extend it across the city. Scotland Yard has said the program has saved 2,000 hours of police time and that 400 drug users had escaped prosecution. In October, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced plans to reclassify marijuana as a ``Class C'' drug - putting it in the same category as anabolic steroids. It would still be illegal to possess or smoke the drug, but violators would receive a warning or a court summons rather than face arrest. The proposals must be approved by Parliament. A final decision is expected in the spring. Source: Associated PressPublished: Tuesday, January 22, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Associated PressRelated Articles:Police Extend Pilot Scheme on Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11649.shtmlPolice End Cannabis Seizures http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10249.shtmlGot a Light, Officer? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10205.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on January 23, 2002 at 06:14:44 PT Great spotlight on American media The three articles posted here are a great illustration of how the American media aids and abets the Drug War. The AP article is a perfect example of a typical US report. The law enforcement official is directly quoted as the indisputable source of facts on the issue. No other other views are offered. No other work to interview anyone or get another perspective is done. This is some of the most disgraceful propaganda I've ever seen on the issue. The guy quoted is a head of some national organization - the Metropolitan police, the ONLY ones operating in Brixton, have claimed that the program is a complete, resounding success. (as we learn in the British articles). [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Cannabis Crusader on January 22, 2002 at 18:47:16 PT lets think about this... Well if they aren't arresting cannabis users then they have a whole lot of time to arrest other "criminals," about 2,000 man hours according to them. And if they have more time to "target" harder drugs then it would be reasonable to think that the number of hard drug users would increased based on arrests. I bet the police are now descovering the scope of Great Briton's hard drug problem, which they didn't have to deal with when they could arrest cannabis smokers in order to say they were dealing with the "drug" problem. No cannabis user arrest, no easy way to deal with the "drug" problem.Fewer cannabis users arrest => more "hard" drug users/salers arrested => cheif saying more people are using/saling hard drugs. Nope. The police have just became aware of the situation. I bet if a poll was conducted where people didn't have to worry about the legality of cannabis, then the results would show a massive "increase" in cannabis use...over night. But in reality they were there all along, just in the shadows. Cannabis prohibition (and possibly drug prohibition) must end before we can start to make this society safe to live in again. However, what a lot of people haven't thought about yet is... Is the damage done to society reversible? For our children's sake, let's all pray it is.That's just my thoughts...I could be wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by aocp on January 22, 2002 at 17:56:15 PT lazy pigs Broughton, whose organization represents 126,000 police officers, said the program apparently gave some residents, including children, the impression that the authorities condone the use of marijuana, called cannabis in Britain.So why aren't they telling them otherwise? Antis are doing everything BUT trying to regulate the problem. It's either, let's give the regulation to the criminals or let's give the regulation to the criminals. Try taking an active hand and then tell me the approach isn't working. Doing nothing and then bitching about it doesn't impress me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on January 22, 2002 at 17:22:01 PT Drop Your Donuts! Of course users are attracted to the area where they won't be harassed!!! If the entire country were to relax it's cannabis laws users could stay put. These policemen don't want to have to fight real crime because that would mean putting down their donuts & getting off their asses. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by lookinside on January 22, 2002 at 16:52:32 PT: the straight dope? hmmm...are we to believe the police on this one?I DON'T THINK SO!I hope somebody without an ax to grind will do an independent study... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment