Make cannabis a Class A Drug, say Conservative Police Commissioners...

[EGuitarStar]

A group of Conservative police commissioners are calling for cannabis to be reclassified from a Class B to a Class A drug.

David Sidwick, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, (BBC Article) said

Cannabis was "driving harm" in communities.


"We're seeing it because it's a gateway drug. If you look at the young people in treatment, the number one drug they are in treatment for is cannabis."

Mr Sidwick, who used to work in the pharmaceutical industry, claimed that a "wealth of new data" on the drug's effects on health had come to light, which merited a "re-evaluation".
He also said that enforcement needed to go hand-in-hand with rehabilitation and education, but that reclassifying cannabis would provide clarity.

Though, they don't have powers to introduce or change laws, I believe this is the wrong way to deal with this issue. Reclassifying it, to me, would lead the drug becoming more lucrative and exacerbate the issue.

We've been trying to tackle the issue in the same manner for a very long time and by many Governments, it is time we looked at how other countries have tackled this issue, of which there are many examples.

Should we not look to do the same rather than make more criminals and use up even more Police resources on a matter that should be dealt differently?

 

[EGuitarStar]

People will still use drugs regardless of what the classification is but if certain drugs were legalised it would reduce organised crime, increases resources available to Police and bring in revenue through taxation.

I find it bizarre that Alcohol, knowing the damage it causes, if abused, is the only legal substance in the UK which is taxed. If the argument is that drug abuse causes a financial impact on the NHS and Police, why the hell not legalise drugs and place a tax on it.

Once again, we are doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.