London, United Kingdom: Members of Parliament voted this week 316 to 160 to downgrade marijuana from a Class B to a Class C scheduled drug so that its possession is no longer an arrestable offense under British law. The legal change, initially announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett two years ago, is expected to be implemented next January.
Under the pending legal change, individuals found in possession of “personal use” amounts of marijuana will be cautioned by police, but no longer arrested. (Police will retain the discretion to make an arrest under special “aggravated” circumstances, such as if marijuana is smoked on school grounds.)
NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup praised the vote. “Neither the marijuana user nor the drug itself presents a legitimate danger to public safety to warrant criminal classification,” he said.
Presently, about 80,000 Britons are arrested annually for possessing cannabis.
Class C is the least harmful category of illegal drugs under British law. Although possession of Class C drugs technically carries a two-year maximum prison term, only offenses punishable by at least five years imprisonment are arrestable in United Kingdom. However, those caught supplying Class C drugs, including cannabis, may be subject to as many as 14 years in jail.
Last year, the British House of Commons and Parliament’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) both released reports recommending marijuana possession be downgraded to a non-arrestable offense. In recent years, several European nations – including Belgium, Croatia, Portugal and Luxembourg – have decriminalized the use and possession of marijuana. Earlier this month, French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin also announced plans to downgrade marijuana possession in France to a fine-only offense.
United Kingdom’s impending policy will be similar to the laws in 12 US states where the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana is no longer punishable by criminal arrests and/or jail time.
For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500.