Frop News: Ministers advised to legalise cannabis cafes

from: thereheis99@hotmail.com (Rev. Crawford)

Newsgroups: alt.slack
Date: Tue, Nov 20, 2001 5:11 PM

Ministers advised to legalise cannabis cafes
By David Bamber, Home Affairs Correspondent
(Filed: 18/11/2001)

THE Government's senior advisers on drugs will recommend this week
that legalising cannabis and selling it through a network of licensed
cafes would end many problems associated with its use.

A report is to be released on Tuesday by Drugscope, which is part of
the Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs - the body
which advises ministers on drugs policy.

It will say that Amsterdam-style drugs cafes would cut deaths and
reduce the health problems associated with all drug use. The cafes
would also, the report states, destroy the link between cannabis and
hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Drugscope's experts believe that the battle to stamp out cannabis use
can never be won.

Their report has already caused concern to ministers because it
suggests going much further than the intentions already announced by
David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, to downgrade the classification of
cannabis and stop police arresting people found with a small amount of
the drug.

The report, which was written by Mike Ashton, the editor of the
scientific journal Drug and Alcohol Findings, says: "More liberal
policies towards the possession and use of small quantities of
cannabis do not seem to have increased cannabis use.

"Regulation may also break the linkage between cannabis and other
illegal drugs, thereby disrupting the link between the cannabis market
and the market for other illegal drugs.

The probability of progression on to other illicit substances may
therefore lessen. It is also reasonable to assume that following
regulation, cannabis may replace alcohol as the drug of choice among a
segment of society.

"Should this occur, then the total damage to individuals and society
may possibly be less, as the medical and social risks of alcohol have
been shown to outweigh those of cannabis."

The report examines six options for future Government policy, ranging
from complete prohibition to giving the drug away free.

Oliver Letwin, the shadow home secretary, said that the Tories would
oppose the creation of legalised drug cafes. He said: "This idea
sounds bizarre, I cannot anticipate the Conservative Party backing
this proposal."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Mr Blunkett has already said that there
will be a review of policy towards cannabis and indicated it could be
reclassified. The results of the review have not been decided."
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Dokstok UK?
From: Rev Priest <pre@dalliance.thisisnotright.net.invalid>
Newsgroups: alt.slack
Date: Tue, Nov 20, 2001 5:25 PM
Message-ID: <ELAK7.9063$%j6.777471@news1.cableinet.net>

Rev. Crawford <thereheis99@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Ministers advised to legalise cannabis cafes
> By David Bamber, Home Affairs Correspondent

Indeed, things are moving quickly here in the UK, there
are at my current count at least FIVE dutch-style
coffee shops planned in the country. The one in Stockport,
Manchester, has been open for some time now and the
police raided on opening day, arrested one man then
let him go without charge. They continue to operate
to this day.

The police won't even be able to arrest someone for
Marijuanah possession after the changes already announced
go through, so the rush to be the first few coffee
shops is on. See WHspliff here for more infomation:

http://www.whspliff.net/cafe.html

The UK is fast following on the steps of the Netherlands
who's first few coffee shops were also strictly illegal.
A large outburst of the shops with almost no public
complaint forced the dutch government into their current
tollerance policy and it looks like the UK is headed
in exactly the same direction.

FINALLY!

Rev Priest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Dokstok UK?
From: Rev Priest <pre@dalliance.yeahyeah.net.invalid>

Hummm, should have checked the current status before I
posted rather than afterwards. Seems they WERE closed
down AGAIN by the Greater Manchester Conspiracy on the
19th, though there were back open on the 20th, still
testing the law and still doing a good job.

Hurrah for the Dutch Experience, Boo to the Greater
Manchester Police. Phoning th GMP to complain about
wasting your tax money on arresting harmless potheads
might be worth a trick if you live anywhere near
the area.

Or email the Con and tell them to get a life:
infodesk@gmp.police.uk

Rev Priest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: peter molenda <peter.molenda@sci.monash.edu.au>
Newsgroups: alt.slack
Reply-To: peter.molenda@sci.monash.edu.au
Date: Tue, Nov 20, 2001 10:01 PM
Message-ID: <3BFB18EF.B81F9EB2@sci.monash.edu.au>

> It will say that Amsterdam-style drugs cafes would cut deaths and
> reduce the health problems associated with all drug use. The cafes
> would also, the report states, destroy the link between cannabis and
> hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

it would also increase England's population one hundredfold as all the
colonists decide to move back.

ee, ah gon' visit me rellies oop north.

nikolai
---
"Yes / we have no compassion/We have no compassion, fuck you."
- blair houghton

Back to document index

Original file name: Dokstok UK? - converted on Thursday, 20 December 2001, 03:29