On 29th January 2004, cannabis was reclassified as a Class C drug across the UK. Alex Kornev, a member of Children's Express, a youth journalism project considers the issues.
| At the moment it is easier for young people in NI to buy blow (cannabis resin) than to buy alcohol. |
The reclassification of cannabis as a class C drug has managed simultaneously to anger the prohibition and legalise cannabis lobbies in the UK. Effectively, users will not be prosecuted by the police if the amount found in their possession is deemed for personal use and not for supply or resale. Police will no longer target users but will concentrate on dealers. Unless of course, the users are openly smoking cannabis in a public place, or in close proximity to young people, or worse still the users are 17 or under themselves.
This move by government was prompted by the police's inability to enforce the previous situation given the common usage of cannabis throughout the UK. It leaves the police free to target the dealers but it does not legalise cannabis consumption. There are mixed messages here that have led to the absurdity of government taking out advertising in the press to explain that cannabis is still illegal. The reclassification of the drug has been met with much criticism from various parts of the community in Northern Ireland although political parties have been more muted. (Pot smoking politicians? Surely not!)
How would you be affected if cannabis were legalised? Would legalisation cause major chaos and the breakdown of society? Does smoking cannabis lead inevitably to experimentation with harder drugs? Or would it regulate the smoking of cannabis reducing risk and possible harm to users who could purchase standardised materials with no danger of adulteration in the manufacturing process? Could the revenue generated from the sale of cannabis be used to develop the communities and to help the police services of Northern Ireland fight the suppliers and dealers of much more dangerous and addictive drugs?
The government profits yearly from substances that are much more addictive than cannabis, namely alcohol and tobacco. This makes one of the main arguments against cannabis highly ironic as the taxes earned from the sale of such substances funds the NHS and other related services but the consumption of either of these substances ultimately leeches funds for treatment.
The drugs trade is inextricably linked to various paramilitary groups and terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland and all over the world for that matter. If cannabis was legalised there would be less money available for paramilitaries and more for the PSNI's campaign against harder drugs. (The legalisation of cannabis would land a heavy financial blow against various terrorist organisations. Ironically, this might make a greater impact on the War On Terrorism than forcefully occupying Iraq.)
The prohibitionists' case seems to rest on three main planks. Firstly, cannabis like smoking can be harmful in its own right with so many toxins being inhaled into the lungs and blood stream. Secondly, they suggest it has addictive properties though they are less certain whether this is both psychologically and chemically addictive. Thirdly, they believe cannabis leads to experimentation with harder addictive drugs like crack cocaine and heroin as surely as night follows day.
However, if cannabis was legalised, it would no longer be as available to young people as it is currently. According to the ESPAD survey which took place in 1999, 38.3% of the boys asked said they have experimented with cannabis and 29.8% of girls admitted likewise. At the moment it is easier for young people in NI to buy blow (cannabis resin) than to buy alcohol as you have to present proof of age to purchase alcohol. If a similar system was in place with cannabis, it should be much easier to control youth consumption of the drug.
Mind you this argument is some what undermined by research on teenage drinking in NI. (HBSC (1997/98) survey).
- 74% of 11-16 year olds admitted having tasted alcohol
- 19.9% drink on a weekly basis
- 35.5% admit getting drunk
Yet there is little doubt that alcohol represents a more potent threat to society than alcohol. Recorded crime statistics suggest that excess alcohol consumption is a contributory factor in
- 40% of violent crimes
- 78% assaults
- 88% of cases of criminal damage
There are over 33,000 deaths per year in the England and Wales attributed directly to the consumption of alcohol (not including deaths by drink-driving). The abuse of alcohol yearly costs the NHS £200 million and £68 million in criminal activity. Cannabis has been said by many to be less a dangerous substance than alcohol, which is a legal drug but causes many deaths annually.
In conclusion, cannabis is a harmful drug and may have an adverse effect on society if legalised, but is no worse than alcohol. The government's 'just say no' approach to cannabis is not working as young people are attracted to the drug because of it being illegal and hyped up in the press. This forbidden fruit effect would not apply as much if cannabis was legalised.
About the team
This story was produced by Alex Kornev, 16. It was published by Fortnight Magazine.
