A recent Bristol University study shows that law enforcement officers in United Kingdom view marijuana as harmless.
Ninety-five police officers were asked to rank 11 substances in order of addictiveness and marijuana was considered the least addictive, just behind coffee. Crack, heroin, cocaine, tobacco, and alcohol were the top five most addictive substances.
Marijuana ranked 10th (out of 11) in being considered a harmful substance by the officers, just behind alcohol and ahead of coffee. Crack, heroin, and cocaine were considered the top three most harmful.
The officers were then presented with a situation where they go to a house where the owner is growing four marijuana plants and there is harvested marijuana in eyesight. Two-thirds said they would not arrest the owner, saying it was a run of the mill sort of case. Only 11 percent said they would definitely prosecute. Nine out of 10 felt that as far as drug cases go, this was not serious.
“Too often marijuana is lumped into the same category as hard drugs,” said Scott Colvin, NORML Publication Director. “It is refreshing to see that for the most part police in United Kingdom are willing to take a reasonable approach to marijuana prosecutions.”
For more information, please contact Scott Colvin, NORML Publications Director, at (202) 483-5500.
