London, United Kingdom: The British House of Lords voted this week 63 to 37 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 vote was the final hurdle facing the reclassification proposal, which was initially announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett two years ago. Marijuana will be officially downgraded to a Class C “non-arrestable” soft drug on January 29, 2004.
Under reclassification, 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.) 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 supplyingClass C drugs, including cannabis, may be subject to as many as 14 years in jail.
United Kingdom’s impending policy will be similar to the laws in 12 US stateswhere 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.