Chilling out: 3 more English police forces effectively decriminalize cannabis

[☽Ţ ҉ĥϋηϠ₡яღ☯ॐ€ðяئॐ♡Pϟiℓℴϟℴ]

http://www.rt.com/uk/310972-cops-weed-uk-law/

Published time: 28 Jul, 2015 15:08 Edited time: 30 Jul, 2015 07:13

Get short URL

© Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

Derbyshire, Dorset and Surrey police forces are said to be willing to turn a blind eye to those who grow cannabis, a Class B drug, for personal use – in order to focus on more serious crime.

The move follows a similar one by the Durham Constabulary, which announced last week it would only pursue people growing the drug if there was a specific complaint or their use was blatant.

While the government has not officially decriminalized the drug, forces appear to be becoming increasingly relaxed about its use and more inclined to warn offenders than charge them.

There may also be economic constraints, given the effects of austerity on UK police forces.

Kevin Hurley and Martyn Underhill, the chief constables for Surrey and Dorset, respectively, took similar positions, with Hurley telling the Daily Mail: “On the list of priorities, cannabis moves a long way down the chain.”

Steve Rolles, policy analyst for drug reform campaign group Transform, told the Telegraph: “There are other police authorities that are doing similar things but they are not shouting about it.”
He echoed the view that funding was driving the shift in policing methods.

“As police forces face increasing cuts they will have to make these decisions. I do not see this as an ideological position but a resource issue, directing their limited resources towards where they are needed,” he said.

Alongside the impact of austerity there is a growing movement not just to decriminalize the drug but to legalize it.

As of Sunday, a petition for the full legalization of marijuana in the UK had collected more than 130,000 signatures in just four days, which means lawmakers must now consider debating it in parliament or at least officially respond to the query.

The electronic petition calls for the legalization of the production, sale and use of cannabis and currently has close to 135,000 signatures since its launch on July 21.

“Legalizing cannabis could bring in £900 million ($1.396 billion) in taxes every year, save £400 million ($620 million) on policing cannabis and create over 10,000 new jobs,” says the appeal, which appears on the government’s petitions website.

The campaign also argues the drug is “safer than alcohol,” has been used by mankind for over 4,000 years, and was only outlawed in the UK in 1925.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

that was nice news to wake to :3

[Halcyon Daze]

More good news

It makes sense to fully legalise it, and simply regulate it (like tobacco and alcohol).

It makes sense even to people who never use it... but especially to the majority of the population who can speak from experience.

Why let an uneducated minority turn people into criminals because of fear and ignorance?

Can't wait to see it finally legalised, what does prohibition achieve other than creating an environment for abuse.

Edited July 30, 2015 by Halcyon Daze

[sharxx101]

I totally agree HD.

But why does it always have to be about money and tax as a benefit to society.

what about all the people it will help as a herbal medicine and as a alternative to pills. My uncle that died of lung cancer he could have benefited from this Natural medicine. We have an amazing plant medicine that has hundreds of uses. That has been used for thousands of years! It should have never been made illegal!

Edited August 6, 2015 by sharxx101

[Bigred]

“Legalizing cannabis could bring in £900 million ($1.396 billion) in taxes every year, save £400 million ($620 million) on policing cannabis and create over 10,000 new jobs. But we still have our heads in the sand