Downing Street Says » Cannabis Classification

» Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Cannabis Classification

Asked why the Prime Minister wanted cannabis classificationto be looked at again, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister said this should be part of a consultation, and there would be a consultation on illegal drug use as part of the Drugs Strategy to be published by the Home Secretary next week. Clearly these issues needed to be kept under review, there had been reports of stronger cannabis strains on the market, and the police had expressed concern about the increased involvement of organised criminal gangs in cannabis production and distribution. As circumstances changed, these things were kept under review, and the Prime Minister now thinks that as part of the new Drugs Strategy, this was an issue that should be considered as part of that consultation.

Asked if it could be deduced that the Prime Minister shared the concerns raised by the police, and believed therefore that there appeared to be a case for reclassifying cannabis, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister thought there was a case for consultation on this issue. Asked when this consultation would be concluded, the PMS replied that this would be made clear when the detail of the consultation is announced next week, as part of the new Drugs Strategy.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought it was a mistake in the first place to downgrade cannabis to class C, the PMS replied that this was a decision that was taken, but clearly these things needed to be kept under review. There were now reports of stronger strains of cannabis on the market.

Asked if this was a subject on which the Prime Minister spoke with personal knowledge, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had been asked the specific question on numerous occasions as to whether or not he had taken illegal drugs, and the answer was "no".

Asked if there was now going to be a weekly jettisoning of policies, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister gets asked questions at PMQs, and he gives answers to them.

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