Buzzby

Drugs Policy Changes Threaten “Social” Suppliers
Young People Now | 12/07/2005

Young drug users could be accused of more serious offences under Government plans to standardise charges, a leading drugs charity has warned.

At present cases are dealt with individually, but the Home Office has written to stakeholders asking for views on the minimum quantity of drugs that a person can have if a court is to charge them with intent to supply, rather than the less serious offence of possession.

A spokeswoman for Drugscope said: “The thing that a lot of young people don’t appreciate is that if they buy an amount to share among friends, in the eye of the law that could be intent to supply.”

The Home Office letter suggests a limit of 500g of leaf cannabis, or 113g of resin, 10 wraps of amphetamine or tablets of ecstasy, and 7g of cocaine, crack or heroine. Drugscope said that the thresholds were “fairly high” but the number of people that could be supplied varied between drugs.

In Brixton the Metropolitan Police has decided to reverse a decision not to prosecute people for the possession of small amounts of cannabis, after it found that dealers were only carrying small amounts of the drug to avoid being charged.

This week it will launch a three-month scheme, ‘No Deal’, which it describes as a “positive arrest policy” for possession of all quantities and types of illegal drug.

The Met denied this would confuse young people, who may believe they will not be arrested. In a statement it said: “The possession of any amount of cannabis is an offence and will be dealt with appropriately within the positive arrest policy.”

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killer12382

Thats the problem with decriminalizing small amounts for personal use but still going after the dealers. The whole thing contradicts itself. How are people supposed to get the pot if the dealers are getting busted?

urania3

Because decriminalization is not the same thing as legalization. Under the reclassification of marijuana in Great Britain, the possession, production, and supply of marijuana are still illegal, but the penalties are different. Adults found carrying the drug are now more likely to receive a warning than a prison sentence, and the maximum prison sentence for possession has dropped from five to two years.

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Why is it that we cannot face the simple truth? Religion is at best unsubstantiated superstition. (Massimo Pigliucci)

vladimir

honestly, 500g should be enough for your personal use and to share with plenty of friends...

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If a drug (or technique or process) were ever to be discovered which would consistently produce a plus four experience in all human beings, it is conceivable that it would signal the ultimate evolution, and perhaps the end of, the human experiment.

killer12382

500 grams is a felony in most states isn't it?