Policy analysisDrug policy reform and the reclassification of cannabis in England and Wales: A cautionary tale
Section snippets
The origins of reform
The decision to downgrade cannabis came as something of a surprise. Controlled substances are rarely reclassified in this way and the political climate was not conducive to such a change. The immediate impetus for reform originated outside the main political parties and came from the Independent Inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act, which was convened by the Police Foundation – an independent think tank specialising in policing and crime reduction. Chaired by Viscountess Runciman, a former
From fantasy to reality
Once the proposed reclassification had been endorsed by the ACMD (2002) and Parliamentary Select Committee on Home Affairs (2002), the Government announced that cannabis would be downgraded to Class C. Under existing arrangements, this meant its possession would no longer be an ‘arrestable offence’ and most offenders would be dealt with through a combination of warnings and cautions (Lloyd, 2008). Only offences that were punishable with a prison sentence of five years or more were deemed
Unintended consequences
Drug offences form part of the staple diet of the criminal justice system (Home Office, 2013a, Ministry of Justice, 2010) and present a particular challenge to law enforcement agencies. Because drug use is a consensual activity it rarely comes to light through victim or witness reports and requires a more proactive approach to policing than other forms of street crime (Alexander, 2010). This typically means officers exercise considerable discretion when searching for drugs and often focus on
The politics of a failed reform
The reclassification of cannabis exacerbated many of the problems identified by the Independent Inquiry: street warnings and penalty notices have extended police discretion, producing a clear net-widening effect; convictions for drug possession offences have increased; many otherwise law-abiding, mainly young, people are still being criminalised to the detriment of their future; and drug policing continues to be disproportionately targeted at minority ethnic communities (Eastwood, Shiner, &
Conclusion
The story of the reclassification of cannabis is a sobering one for anybody with an interest in drug policy reform. What should have been a stepping stone to a more proportionate and workable policy has, if anything, led further away from this goal. The Independent Inquiry's original recommendation was subject to a double translation as politicians and police reached a negotiated settlement that diluted and ultimately undermined the reform. Including cannabis street warnings as a sanction
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Britain needs a serious debate
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