Originally published on February 3rd, 2009

Despite the UK Government’s decision to reclassify cannabis to a class B status, which would result in stricter punishments for possession or dealing, Scottish police forces have stated that they are set to continue with same policy on the drug that they have used since 2004.

The new legislation will result in English and Welsh police operating a three strike system with a “final strike” potentially leading to a prison sentence for anyone charged with an offence.

However after reviewing the system, the Association of Chief Police Officers for Scotland will continue to adhere to their rule of reporting anyone found in possession to the Procurator-Fiscal.

Detective Superintendent Willie MacColl, national drugs co-ordinator for the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said, “Policing in Scotland has taken a coherent and consistent approach to the issue of cannabis throughout the past four years.

He added that, “Given the decision by the Home Secretary to reclassify upwards, Acpos has considered their policing response and decided that, as in 2004, such a move would not result in any changes of policy.”

The drug was downgraded from class C to B in 2004, after the Government deemed at the time that the dangers posed by the substance did not merit the B classification.

However, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, made the current decision based on what is seen as new evidence of the dangers of the “skunk” strain. There is also debate as to whether the drug can lead to schizophrenia.

In 2008, The Scottish Crime Survey found that cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Scotland, with an estimated 6.3 percent of people aged 16-59 reporting to have taken cannabis.

Results also showed its availability to young people, with 44 percent of Scottish 15 year olds stating that they had been offered the drug.
Although a UK nationwide survey in 2008 found that cannabis usage amongst 16-24 year olds decreased after cannabis was downgraded to a C with the number of people using it in 2004 till start of 2008 falling from 25.3 percent to 20 percent.

The current reclassification from the Government comes into force, even though its own “Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs” stated that despite the risks should remain a class C.

Lawyers have also criticised the legislation behind the classification as the “strike system” is out of step with the law regarding other class B drugs.