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| | Weblog special: cannabis and the law |
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October 25 2001: The home secretary, David Blunkett, has announced proposals to reclassify cannabis from a class B to a class C drug. We pick the best analysis on the internet.
Special report: drugs in Britain
| | | For and against
Former newspaper editor Rosie Boycott has been a prominent campaigner on the issue of the decriminalisation of cannabis: in the pages of This is London, she heralds the Blunkett announcement as a 'significant day for those who believe in personal freedom'. But Susan Greenfield, a pharmacologist at Oxford University, is convinced by the body of evidence which suggests that cannabis may be dangerous. Liberal drug laws adopted by the Netherlands and other countries, she says, have failed.
This is London
| Wonder worker or evil weed?
Kelly Morris, writing in the Lancet, illustrates the level of polarisation surrounding the debate about the possible therapeutic benefits of substances derived from cannabis. Those who advocate further study in this area, she argues, have become victims of an irrational debate on the pros and cons of decriminalisation. (The article is on page four of the extract: PDF reader required: registration required.)
Lancet
| An addictive high?
Laura Spinney, writing in the New Scientist, interviews a former user who believes it is still a matter of debate as to whether or not cannabis is an addictive drug. Although cannabis does not have a clearly defined withdrawal symptom, she writes, dependency can be manifested and defined in other ways.
New Scientist
| Let's be adult about this
A leader, also in the New Scientist, disagrees. It argues that public opinion is becoming more sophisticated, and after 30 years of research into harmful effects, 'there can be no hidden dangers left to discover'.
New Scientist
| | | A welcome change
The Scotsman welcomes the Blunkett plan, but notes that the government line represents quite an about turn from that of less than a year ago.
Scotsman
| The government's news management
Matthew Parris, writing in the Times, places the government's move on cannabis in the context of international events over the past month. 'On a caricatured view, Alastair Campbell yesterday made peace in Northern Ireland, legalised cannabis, executed a U-turn on asylum seekers' vouchers, wiped out eight terrorist training camps and sent in the marines - all to sideline a little personnel problem down at the department for transport, local government and the regions.'
Times
| Right on, Mr Blunkett
David Aaronovitch of the Independent illustrates how a great hypocrisy in government drug policy has simply been replaced by a lesser one. 'Great improvement though it is, the Blunkett proposal means that you can have your dope, but you can't get it. Or, rather, no one can give it to you legally, so you'll still have to hook up to your friendly dealer, who also just happens to have in his pockets some other, slightly stronger substances.'
Independent
A common sense move
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