A third think drug laws are too liberal

Addiction Treatment
Alcohol
Drugs
Gambling
In the papers
On TV

News Archive

Home » News » Drugs » A third think drug laws are too liberal

by Change | 17 Nov 2008

Bookmark

E-mail

A study shows more people think a hard line should be taken in anti-drug legislation.

An increasing number of people believe drug laws are too liberal, with this figure increasing from a quarter in 2002 to almost a third today, a study shows.

Commissioned by the Observer, the research shows support for decriminalising certain forms of substance abuse has fallen from 38 to 27 per cent.

It reveals 70 per cent feel there should be no distinction made between drug providers who deal for profit and those who supply their friends.

Home secretary Jacqui Smith tells the newspaper the public's harder stance has informed the government's decision to reclassify cannabis abuse to a class B offence.

She says: "People are now beginning to recognise this isn't just some kind of harmless thing, but can have a serious impact on young people's mental health."

Highlighting the fact cannabis providers are involved in organised crime and child trafficking, she also tells the source the substance is a different drug even from that which was declassified in 2003.

In related cannabis abuse news, a marijuana factory has been discovered in a rented house in the Hooley area after a fire was investigated by the Arson Task Force.

Bookmark this: