Enforcement acts as deterrent
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith
has confirmed that repeat
cannabis offenders will face
tougher penalties.
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© MAREEN FRIEDRICH – FOTOLIA.COM |
People caught carrying
cannabis for a second time could
now face an on-the-spot fine of £80 instead of a warning. This
was announced alongside a
Parliamentary Order laid to
reclassify the drug to Class B
from 26 January 2009.
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 cannabis market may
increase mental-health problems,
especially in young people –
average age of first using
cannabis is 13 and some binge
on skunk.
That is why the Government
accepted the Association of Chief
Police Officers’ proposal for a
strengthened and escalating
enforcement approach for possession
in England and Wales.
Under Penalty Notice for
Disorder proposals, those caught
with cannabis on a first occasion
could still get a cannabis warning
but, on a second occasion,
they are likely face a fine of £80
and arrest if caught for a third
time.
Criminalising people unnecessarily
is not the Government’s
aim. However, the 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.
Both reclassification and
escalation for repeat offenders
will reinforce the message that
cannabis is illegal.
Humberside’s Chief Constable
Tim Hollis, ACPO’s lead on
Drugs, said: “While enforcement
alone will not provide the total
solution to a crime that is a global
problem this will act as a
deterrent, along with better education
about the impact of
drugs.”
The Government also published
its response to 21 recommendations
made by the
Advisory Council on the Misuse
of Drugs. In accepting 20 of the
recommendations in its report,
Cannabis: Classification and
Public Health, the Government has
committed to taking forward work
across a range of departments.
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