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Your Say: Should the Government reclassify Cannabis as a class B drug?
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| Kevin Dodgson, Bridgwater |
ON Wednesday, the Government announced it plans to reclassify cannabis as a class B drugs due to the uncertainty of its impact on mental health.
Tony Blair downgraded cannabis to a class C drug in 2004 but last week's move now means the maximum prison sentence for possessing the substance rises from two years to five years.
The Mercury took to the streets of Bridgwater to find out what you think about the Government's new, tougher stance.
KATHY ASHFORD, BRIDGWATER - "I agree with the new law and I am against all drugs. If the punishment is harsher, it might deter people from using it."
KEVIN DODGSON, BRIDGWATER - "I don't agree. The Government hasn't done its homework. It's not as bad as people make out and works for medicinal purposes."
HENRY KENNETT, BRIDGWATER - "I think it's fair enough but I'm sure people will find ways to get around the law."
IVOR PUNNETT, BRIDGWATER - "The drug causes a whole host of psychological problems and the punishment should be harder. People possessing the drug should be sent to prison and made to have compulsory medical examinations."
JAMES CLARKE, BURNHAM - "I hope the new plans will work out and will stop people taking the drug."
REX BAINBRIDGE, BRIDGWATER - "I don't agree with it. A lot of people with illnesses such as arthritis rely on it for medicinal reasons. However, I don't think the law will make much difference as, once you're hooked on a drug, it's difficult to stop using it."
7:02pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Matt H, Bridgwater on 12:30am Fri 9 May 08
Me dad gets drunk and beats me brother, then drives his car around drunk, **** himself. I'd tell him to stop, but he's been told if he stops drinking he could die from withdrawal.
Me mum smokes hash and plays Wii, while eating crumpets.
But the crumpets are making her fat, and she's developed high blood pressure. I think crumpets should be illegal.
Me dad gets drunk and beats me brother, then drives his car around drunk, **** himself. I'd tell him to stop, but he's been told if he stops drinking he could die from withdrawal.
Me mum smokes hash and plays Wii, while eating crumpets.
But the crumpets are making her fat, and she's developed high blood pressure. I think crumpets should be illegal.
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Bridgwater on 12:34am Fri 9 May 08
If everything were legal, there would be no drug dealers, no black market, and greatly reduced crime.
If I wanted to smoke crack, I obviously wouldn't care if it was illegal or not.
Amsterdam has a smaller percentage of locals who smoke cannabis than here. look at the facts!
Matt H: yea right your mom plays wii
If everything were legal, there would be no drug dealers, no black market, and greatly reduced crime.
If I wanted to smoke crack, I obviously wouldn't care if it was illegal or not.
Amsterdam has a smaller percentage of locals who smoke cannabis than here. look at the facts!
Matt H: yea right your mom plays wii
Posted by: Peter, Hampshire on 6:56am Fri 9 May 08
My uncle went out last weekend, drank too much alcohol and died of alcohol poisoning the next day.
I was so shook up by it I ate 10kg of 95% THC strength hash. It totally knocked me out but I woke up the next day and felt much better.
My uncle went out last weekend, drank too much alcohol and died of alcohol poisoning the next day.
I was so shook up by it I ate 10kg of 95% THC strength hash. It totally knocked me out but I woke up the next day and felt much better.
Posted by: arnie, bridgend on 7:28am Fri 9 May 08
Of Course not. I am 37yrs old and I am tired of probibtion. No class is gonna change my habits. Just expose me to potentially contaminated cannabis. which is mental health issue for otherwise law abiding citizens like myself. But Brown doesnt care because my relaxant of choice is and illegal "drug". NO CONFIDENCE
Of Course not. I am 37yrs old and I am tired of probibtion. No class is gonna change my habits. Just expose me to potentially contaminated cannabis. which is mental health issue for otherwise law abiding citizens like myself. But Brown doesnt care because my relaxant of choice is and illegal "drug". NO CONFIDENCE
Posted by: Richard, london on 8:27am Fri 9 May 08
I just looked at a skunk joint my friend was smoking and my bum fell off.
Tell your children and especially the kittens,they are our hope you know.
I fancy Debra Bell,bit milfy int she?
I just looked at a skunk joint my friend was smoking and my bum fell off.
Tell your children and especially the kittens,they are our hope you know.
I fancy Debra Bell,bit milfy int she?
Posted by: John, Bradford on 8:36am Fri 9 May 08
So the use of Cannabis has fallen since downgrading. So almost 200,000 hours annually of Police time has been saved. So the link to Schizophrenia and psychosis is probably far less than thought and associative rather than causitive. Yet we have Gordon Brown ignoring the countries experts and potentially criminalising nearly 3 million non violent users. The Governments hypocrisy is astounding the risk of mental health problems caused by alcohol is far greater than that of cannabis yet this now carries a 5 year prison sentance.
So the use of Cannabis has fallen since downgrading. So almost 200,000 hours annually of Police time has been saved. So the link to Schizophrenia and psychosis is probably far less than thought and associative rather than causitive. Yet we have Gordon Brown ignoring the countries experts and potentially criminalising nearly 3 million non violent users. The Governments hypocrisy is astounding the risk of mental health problems caused by alcohol is far greater than that of cannabis yet this now carries a 5 year prison sentance.
Posted by: J on 9:18am Fri 9 May 08
Only 3% of cannabis users care about what class it is banded into, so it will have no effect on use. All it will do is make criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens.
Also when are they going to ban alcohol as this causes more crime, more mental health issues, uses up more police and hospital time and cost the taxpayer much more than cannabis ever will.
Only 3% of cannabis users care about what class it is banded into, so it will have no effect on use. All it will do is make criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens.
Also when are they going to ban alcohol as this causes more crime, more mental health issues, uses up more police and hospital time and cost the taxpayer much more than cannabis ever will.
Posted by: Bob Marley, Heaven on 10:05am Fri 9 May 08
Yeh rite, mon.
Posted by: peter Grimes, runcorn on 10:06am Fri 9 May 08
Brown decided when he was elected that he needed votes from middle aged suberbia and so he went for the soft option, cannabis.
This change has NO impact on the dealers (the people he said he wants to target), C to B makes no difference to their sentences, so is he trying to criminalise decent citizens who enjoy cannabis?
VOTES, and he doesn't care if he has to lie to get them. (Remember, he has had a good teacher).
Gordon, we are not stupid and you are a cynical failure. Please call an election soon so we don't have to see or listen to you any more.
Brown decided when he was elected that he needed votes from middle aged suberbia and so he went for the soft option, cannabis.
This change has NO impact on the dealers (the people he said he wants to target), C to B makes no difference to their sentences, so is he trying to criminalise decent citizens who enjoy cannabis?
VOTES, and he doesn't care if he has to lie to get them. (Remember, he has had a good teacher).
Gordon, we are not stupid and you are a cynical failure. Please call an election soon so we don't have to see or listen to you any more.
Posted by: peter Grimes, runcorn on 10:19am Fri 9 May 08
Fascinating comments too, shows that the governments bullshit generator (the BBC) is being successful in getting the public to accept the governments misinformation as gospel.
Forget what the experts recomend, Gordon knows best.
Fascinating comments too, shows that the governments bullshit generator (the BBC) is being successful in getting the public to accept the governments misinformation as gospel.
Forget what the experts recomend, Gordon knows best.
Posted by: mick, Over there on 11:15am Fri 9 May 08
Wow, could be really be that stupid in bridgewater? or maybe the comments where vetted and only the daft ones made it to print..
Wow, could be really be that stupid in bridgewater? or maybe the comments where vetted and only the daft ones made it to print..
Posted by: Clive, Royston Vasey on 2:08pm Fri 9 May 08
"Wow, could be really be that stupid in bridgewater?"
Is that an attempt at irony or have you been smoking the wacky backy for too long?
"Wow, could be really be that stupid in bridgewater?"
Is that an attempt at irony or have you been smoking the wacky backy for too long?
Posted by: Mr C, Kent on 2:14pm Sun 11 May 08
It wont matter what class its in.
[bold]people will still take it.[/bold]
If it was not in any class and you could get it in certan cafes and only smoke it there then it would be safer as the goverment could controll what in it, also they could TAX it as
I would pay the extra 17.5% to avoid getting punnished for having a smoke out of sight of others.
[quote]Amsterdam has a smaller percentage of locals who smoke cannabis than here. look at the facts![/quote] - Captain Obvious, Bridgwater
Amsterdam says you can take it in certan place's only why cant we. i know this will make it easyer to get but it woud be safer stuff and the goverment would get money from the TAX this will wype out most of the black market as people will feel safer in a [italic]Joint-Cafe[/italic] (as such).
It wont matter what class its in.
people will still take it.
If it was not in any class and you could get it in certan cafes and only smoke it there then it would be safer as the goverment could controll what in it, also they could TAX it as
I would pay the extra 17.5% to avoid getting punnished for having a smoke out of sight of others.
Amsterdam has a smaller percentage of locals who smoke cannabis than here. look at the facts!
- Captain Obvious, Bridgwater
Amsterdam says you can take it in certan place's only why cant we. i know this will make it easyer to get but it woud be safer stuff and the goverment would get money from the TAX this will wype out most of the black market as people will feel safer in a
Joint-Cafe (as such).
Posted by: grahame baker, bridgwater on 4:15pm Sun 11 May 08
alcohol is a bigger drug than cannabis,it causes more trouble.
alcohol is a bigger drug than cannabis,it causes more trouble.
Posted by: W.G.Naughton-Holmer, Castle Cary on 8:03am Mon 12 May 08
I visited Bridgwater one day in 1962 and it seemed a decent sort of town, never back since then. On this topic of can-a-bis, the number of readers comments indicate they are all for it, as on more serious local topics they don"t usually say anything.
I visited Bridgwater one day in 1962 and it seemed a decent sort of town, never back since then. On this topic of can-a-bis, the number of readers comments indicate they are all for it, as on more serious local topics they don"t usually say anything.
Posted by: emil blyter, Big Ears Land on 10:53pm Mon 12 May 08
I like me cup of tea, which some people would say is a drug. But my point is this... WHY are our young people so unhappy that they think they need to escape into a drug-induced unreality?.
I like me cup of tea, which some people would say is a drug. But my point is this... WHY are our young people so unhappy that they think they need to escape into a drug-induced unreality?.
Posted by: 626 the owner of the beast, in your mind on 11:15pm Thu 15 May 08
educate and regulate, there are to meany misconceptions even the PM needs proper education on the matter but then he wont listen to the experts ;this man who runs the country
1 step forward 3 steps back, if he is challenged in a court of law he will lose because his own experts will rip him to bits as the big question will be :Mr brown who did you listen too and can you publish your evidence that made you undermined your own panel of experts
educate and regulate, there are to meany misconceptions even the PM needs proper education on the matter but then he wont listen to the experts ;this man who runs the country
1 step forward 3 steps back, if he is challenged in a court of law he will lose because his own experts will rip him to bits as the big question will be :Mr brown who did you listen too and can you publish your evidence that made you undermined your own panel of experts
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