Apologies for posting a story from the Daily Misery, so the truth or
otherwise cannot be guaranteed :-).


Courts could be told not to jail cannabis dealers By JAMES SLACK

Cannabis dealers would escape jail under proposed sentencing rules for
magistrates.

Until now, dealers selling even small quantities have faced up to 14 years
in prison.

But in future those convicted of dealing Class C drugs - such as cannabis
- could instead be given community orders. Only big-time cannabis dealers
would face jail.

The rules are in a draft document prepared by the Sentencing Guidelines
Council. They could be adopted as early as February.

Labour downgraded the status of cannabis from Class B to Class C in 2003,
which means those caught with the drug for personal use are unlikely to be
arrested. At the time, ministers said the switch would mean police had
more time to chase down drug dealers.

The guidelines also say those caught with large quantities of Class A
drugs such as heroin and cocaine should no longer be jailed if the drugs
are for personal use.

Criticising the proposals, Tory justice spokesman Nick Herbert said: "What
kind of signal will this send to society about our attitude to drugs?"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=499747&in_page_id=1770

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

In article , drjohn@NOSPAM.hotpotmail.com (Dr
John Watson) wrote:

> *From:* Dr John Watson 
> *Date:* Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:51:12 +0000
> 
> Apologies for posting a story from the Daily Misery, so the truth or
> otherwise cannot be guaranteed :-).
> 
> 
> Courts could be told not to jail cannabis dealers By JAMES SLACK
> 
> Cannabis dealers would escape jail under proposed sentencing rules 
> for
> magistrates.
> 
> Until now, dealers selling even small quantities have faced up to 
> 14 years
> in prison.
> 
> But in future those convicted of dealing Class C drugs - such as 
> cannabis
> - could instead be given community orders. Only big-time cannabis 
> dealers
> would face jail.
> 
> The rules are in a draft document prepared by the Sentencing 
> Guidelines
> Council. They could be adopted as early as February.
> 
> Labour downgraded the status of cannabis from Class B to Class C in 
> 2003,
> which means those caught with the drug for personal use are 
> unlikely to be
> arrested. At the time, ministers said the switch would mean police 
> had
> more time to chase down drug dealers.
> 
> The guidelines also say those caught with large quantities of Class 
> A
> drugs such as heroin and cocaine should no longer be jailed if the 
> drugs
> are for personal use.
> 
> Criticising the proposals, Tory justice spokesman Nick Herbert 
> said: "What
> kind of signal will this send to society about our attitude to 
> drugs?"
> 
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_art
> icle_id=499747&in_page_id=1770
> 
> -- 
> Dr John Watson
> Baker Street
> 
> 
I understand the Magistrates Association are one of the bodies alarmed by increased
cannabis use & the effects on the very young and are telling HMG downgrading was a
mistake. It is very rare for them to get involved in such matters. It is because of
what they are seeing in Youth Courts.

In message , Dr John Watson 
 writes

>Criticising the proposals, Tory justice spokesman Nick Herbert said: 
>"What kind of signal will this send to society about our attitude to 
>drugs?"

That we have had a ridiculous attitude for a long time and that we are 
finally making some moves to correct it?

-- 
Mike_B

On 5 Dec, 12:08, Mike_B  wrote:
> In message , Dr John Watson
>  writes
>
> >Criticising the proposals, Tory justice spokesman Nick Herbert said:
> >"What kind of signal will this send to society about our attitude to
> >drugs?"
>
> That we have had a ridiculous attitude for a long time and that we are
> finally making some moves to correct it?

amusingly enough, the comments in the DM article linked to were
running over 2:1 in favour of relaxing laws, if not outright
legalisation. This happens every time they run any cannabis related
story. They ask for comments and get deluged with people who actually
rather like the odd spliff.

"Drug addicts paper of choice is the Daily Mail" would be an accurate,
but unlikely headline.

Noticed at Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:00:00 +0000: Claude informed us:

> I understand the Magistrates Association are one of the bodies alarmed by increased
> cannabis use & the effects on the very young and are telling HMG downgrading was a
> mistake. It is very rare for them to get involved in such matters. It is because of
> what they are seeing in Youth Courts.

Of course what they see in youth courts is the tip of the iceberg, those
who come into contact with them. The vast majority who have no problems do
not get seen in youth courts.

I agree that downgrading was a mistake (although I can't for the life of
me see why magistrates would think so - usage fell and upgrading again
would have no effect on dealers, only further criminalising and alienating
the youths who do need help).

Cannabis should be legalised, regulated and sold in licensed premises for
sale to over-18s only. It should be decriminalised for under 18s - a
criminal record is of no help whatsoever to a 16-years old. Civil
penalties that do not involve a criminal record should be sufficient, but
with severe criminal sanctions for those who supply kids.

Please don't bother with your usual straw man tactics, David.

PS Newsgroups corrected, there are several magistrates reading and
posting in uk.legal.

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

Dr John Watson wrote:

> Until now, dealers selling even small quantities have faced up to 14
> years in prison.

While violent offenders have walked free with community service....

Thank heavens this madness is being addressed - save the prison places for 
the people who belong in there.

Noticed at Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:17:51 -0800: Jethro informed us:

> amusingly enough, the comments in the DM article linked to were running
> over 2:1 in favour of relaxing laws, if not outright legalisation. This
> happens every time they run any cannabis related story. They ask for
> comments and get deluged with people who actually rather like the odd
> spliff.
> 
> "Drug addicts paper of choice is the Daily Mail" would be an accurate,
> but unlikely headline.

I find it odd that the DM earlier published my article and the ES has just
published another one.

They've both usually ignored me.

Perhaps Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells is stoned?

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23425683-details/Cannabis+warnings+go+up+by+50+per+cent/article.do#readerComments

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=499747&in_page_id=1770#StartComments

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

In MsgID on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:51:12
+0000, in uk.politics.drugs, 'Dr John Watson' wrote:

>
>Labour downgraded the status of cannabis from Class B to Class C in 2003,
>which means those caught with the drug for personal use are unlikely to be
>arrested. At the time, ministers said the switch would mean police had
>more time to chase down drug dealers.
>
>The guidelines also say those caught with large quantities of Class A
>drugs such as heroin and cocaine should no longer be jailed if the drugs
>are for personal use.

>Criticising the proposals, Tory justice spokesman Nick Herbert said: "What
>kind of signal will this send to society about our attitude to drugs?"

Wish I could answer him. The 'signal' it sends is that the faintest of
glimmerings of intelligent assesment are beginning to be seen, at the end
of multiple decades of ignorance and prejudice.

Dave J.


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