British political party Labour’s plans to ‘send a message’ to drug users by reclassifying cannabis was ridiculed by top British journalist Simon Jenkins recently, who dismissed Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s plans as ‘a vignette of modern British government’.
“Brown has no evidence to alter what is a pharmacological classification, but is happy to abuse science to ‘send a message’,” the former Times editor declared. “The only message being sent is of cowardice and stupidity. This pseudo-tough move to reclassify cannabis flies in the face of the science and delivers a boost to the illicit drugs market.” (Guardian)
He also attacked ‘the much-vaunted “link” with mental illness’ pointing out that ‘schizophrenia rates among drug users have fallen, against an expected rise.’ “Those who take cannabis for a long time certainly have a 40% higher incidence of mental illness,” he added, “But they also drink (alcohol), and there is no evidence of causality.”
British senior police, meanwhile, confirmed they’ll be continuing their “confiscate and warn” approach for users despite the planned changes, explaining ‘“We do not want to criminalise young people who are experimenting.”
