Cannabis

Cannabis reclassification
Cannabis was reclassified on 29th January 2004. It is now a Class C drug, alongside other drugs such as GHB and Valium.

What does this mean for you?

Laws
Cannabis is still illegal, however, the penalties have changed.

Supply, cultivation, trafficking
The maximum penalty for supply is 14 years imprisonment. This has not changed.

Possession
The maximum penalty has been reduced from 5 years imprisonment. The change in the law has implications for adults and young people.

Adults
In most cases, possession of cannabis would not lead to arrest, unless there were certain aggravating features to the offence, for example, smoking in a public place, or repeat offecnding, which may lead to arrest and prosecution.

Young People
For a first offence of cannabis possession, young people under 18 will be arrested, taken to a police station and given a formal warning or reprimand. Further offences will lead to a final warning or charge.
For more information reagrding the law and the background behind the changes, visit:
www.drugs.gov.uk/NationalStrategy/CannabisReclassification
or
www.talktofrank.com

Health
Cannabis has been reclassified, but this does not mean that the governement believes it is a harm free drug. There are still health risks associated with its use, as there are with any drug, and many of the potential risks are unknown. To find out more about how smoking cannabis can affect your health, go to:
www.drugscope.org.uk/druginfo