Since september 2007, 1219 people have signed the petiton “For a Healthy Option: Cannabis Social Clubs”, launched by the UK Legalise Cannabis Alliance. On 26 February 2008, the UK Government responded as follows:
You have signed an e-petition in support of providing local authorities with the legal power to allow them to license private member cannabis social clubs for adults. This is the Government’s response.
The Government’s message has always been that cannabis is a harmful and illegal drug that should not be taken. It has a number of acute and chronic health effects and prolonged use can induce dependence. Most cannabis is smoked and smoking, in any form, is dangerous. Even the occasional use of cannabis can pose significant dangers for people with mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, and particular efforts need to be made to encourage abstinence in such individuals.
The Government seeks to balance the rights of individuals on the one hand and the greater public health and welfare considerations on the other. In so doing it considers that it makes sense, on health grounds, for cannabis to remain a controlled drug whose unauthorised production (including cultivation), supply and possession are and will remain illegal.
There is therefore no prospect of the Government facilitating the supply of cannabis by enabling local authorities to license private member cannabis social clubs for adults to cultivate the plant for personal use.
Furthermore, anyone trying to establish a cannabis social club, cannabis café or similar establishment risks imprisonment or a heavy fine (or both) under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Supply of cannabis is and will remain a criminal offence and those who supply it to others risk severe penalties. It is also an offence for managers of premises knowingly to allow the production, supply or smoking of cannabis on their premises. The classification of cannabis makes no difference to this position and the Government expects a swift and effective response from the police to any attempts to defy the law.
There is real public concern about the potential mental health effects of cannabis use and, in particular, the use and availability of increased strengths of the drug, commonly known as skunk. That is why the Government asked the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review cannabis classification in July 2007.
The Government will consider carefully the findings of the Advisory Council when it submits its advice in April 2008. It will then make a decision about whether or not to bring a proposal to Parliament to reclassify the drug from Class C back to Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This would toughen the penalties relating to cannabis possession, if approved.
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
Typical run of the mill government propaganda. The Government are living in a deluded state of self inflicted denial. Funny thing is that with or without their blessed consent, millions of people will carry on using cannabis irrespective of the State’s dictates and their lap dog police force’s “swift” action. Clegg is a disgrace, with the University fees scandal & his complete U turn regarding the former Lib Dem manifesto regarding drug policy reform, IMO he and his party are finished but he’s just to drunk with power to realise it.
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
Prohibition causes more harm than cannabis itself. Millions and millions of pounds every year is siphoned into the hands of organised gangs which peddle and push (normally adulterated) cannabis. These gangs use these millions and millions of pounds to rather unscrupulous ends. If these millions and millions of pounds were siphoned instead to our government then your hospital would have a brand new MRI scanner.
Prohibition has proven that people who want to smoke weed WILL smoke weed wether it is illegal or not. Harsher sentences will only push the prices higher (due to increased risks taken by the supplier) and will further criminalise users of the drug and cause more drug-users to exit prison after their 5-year stint as a hardened criminal.
If you have a teenage son or daughter you might want to think about those 2 words for a second; hardened criminal! Yes indeed. There is a strong chance your son or daughter will probably try cannabis at some point and an even bigger chance that they’re going to enjoy it and probably want to experiment further and they will not tell you about it. If they happened to be arrested and prosecuted for their posession, which is very likely now it is “Class B”, there is a good chance they will go to prison. Guess on the sort of people they will mix with in prison, and also try and think on the effect that will have on your impressionable son or daughter.
Once they’re released, they will probably be completely unrecognisable to you. Prison will mess someone up for more than any drug ever could. As you watch your beloved offspring plummet head-first into a life of crime that they became desensitized to in prison you may want to consider which you prefer: them sitting around having a few joints in front of the tv, or the hardened criminal.
Or forgoing that they might just get stabbed in prison and die.
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
Using drugs is not only a personal matter, but its effects causes bad conseguences on our society.
A person that uses drugs not only lives a short and a desperate life, but he/she demands a lot of attentions and help from those who do not use these poisons.
So, for their and our good let’s do our upmost TO STOP these personal and social suicides!
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
Hej Nicola,
yes and because we want to minimize the harm on the people and society, we need cannabis social clubs. no other way out! no other exit! there is no alternative!
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
There is always alternatives.
But I agree to that, anyone who thinks cannabis is bad for society/economy/individual doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Cannabis, among many other plants species, are a very long known cure for illnesses and prescription for a healthy life.
But I can say, nobody should be given privileges to do against the laws. Therefore I say also; it comes to your own attention, whether your liability is important to yourself. In that way, you are not harming anyone except yourself.
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
i understand peoples points of view on cannabis but the facts even by goverment drugs advisors show that cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco. People always use the excuse it makes you dependant and brings on mental problems. I myself am a rastarfari and i do not drink or smoke tobacco but smoke cannabis. I have never had any mental health issues or problems in all 10 years i have smoked it, i beleive it could help towards mental problems if you already have them but this is not solely down to cannabis. I see people all the time who are addicted to alcohol fighting in the streets, domestic abuse, stumbling around making a nuisance of themselves and tearing lifes and familys apart but because alcohol seen as ok in our society then no-one cares. I have never seen anyone fighting or causing problems because they have smoked cannabis. I find cannabis brings people together and makes the world a more peaceful place to live, of coarse you will have people who will get addicted to it but people are addicted to sex, chocolate and an array of all different things these days. If it was illegal to smoke tobacco but not cannabis then would we have people with the same views towards it. I think so and i dont see why people say drug users are all bad, people shouldnt be tarnished with the same brush. If you feel the same way as me or are interested in talking further on this then feel free to join my group on facebook. The high commitee . Thanks jay
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
Nicola,
known drugs include caffeine, alcohol, paracetomol and so on… therefore your point is completely baseless. Furthermore, the rash formation of generalised opinion causes a much greater problem in society. The assumption of all drug users being destructive is a key example. Without my main drug of choice (Sertraline) I would not have been in a position to seek help for my mental health issues, and may well have led to serious damage to myself or others, all the while preventing me from being an active, contributing member of society. In short, I would not earn any income, and would survive on benefits, simulatenously removing any income tax I would have paid while using up public funds to cover my basic expenses. In addition, my influence on the local economy would be vastly less than it currently is – both causing a small (but still non-zero) amount of harm to local businesses and also a further reduction in my tax contributions as I’d be paying considerably less VAT since I’d be spending less on VAT-able items.
The real cancer in society is the rash presumption that leads to such wildly ignorant opinions, and the consequent stubbornness that comes with the assumption that they are infallible – this is what sets people up to be mislead, lied to and used by others. In short, you are setting yourself up for a fall. You will be used, lied to, conned and manipulated because you are willing to think in these grossly generalised and simplistic terms.
Oh, and you can’t spell – see words such as “conseguences” and “upmost”.
Hope that helps 🙂
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
the issues seen put forth by both sides i can agree and disagree with,on one hand you have the arguement for the drug to be allowed and as an ex cannabis user myself (i did end up being one of the unfortunate few which did get phsycosis) i can agree in a truely impartial view that cannabis does have a place within society.it has very many beneficial elements for people with such problems like ms,cancer patients receiving radio therapy,skin cancer patients,period pains,back pains,muscle complaints ect ect ect. i do not condone the smoking of the plant but ingesting of the plant i do not see an issue with as this wouldnt effect the lungs in a negative way and for the government to say well smoking is bad why not do away with tobacco also?but with all things this should be only done within moderation,as some people do have addictive personalities and can turn to it as a crutch like others do with alcohol.
if you grow your own smoke/eat it/turn into tincture in your own home and tell no one about it then it cant really effect society as you are doing no different then any one who brews beer at home for their own personal consumption.you are not going out and mixing with dealers so isnt funding criminal activity,and also takes away the pathway theory that its the first step to harder drugs (when in all honesty i do believe alcohol and tobacco are the gateway drugs) as you wouldnt have access to the harder drugs like you would mixing with dealers.
i also think its down to the individual to make a truely informed decision and if the drug/herb does effect the individual in a negative way then they should seek help straight away and stop using the drug/herb.but for the government to just dismiss the idea that the drug/herb can help many people even when their own advisory council has said as much then i think it is just plain and simple foolishness and ignorant of them to do so!!!!!!!
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CSC PETITION
You are sick