World | UK
Scientists criticise move to reclassify marijuana
A group of senior British scientists has condemned the government's push to toughen the penalties for possessing marijuana.
- AP
- Published: 00:02 November 27, 2008
London: A group of senior British scientists has condemned the government's push to toughen the penalties for possessing marijuana.
Britain's House of Lords voted to reclassifying the drug on Tuesday, and the House of Commons, Britain's powerful lower house, already approved the measure earlier this month but the Lords' vote is seen as a formality.
The Home Office said it expected the change to come into effect in January.
In Britain, drugs are classified into three different categories with "class A" the most dangerous.
Marijuana is classified as a "class C" drug and the change will upgrade it to "class B" - something the government argues is necessary partly because of the increasing potency of some cannabis varieties.
Letter
The change would reverse the relaxation of British cannabis laws in 2004 and ignore the recommendations of a government drug advisory council.
In a letter published in The Guardian newspaper, 10 scientists said the reclassification could be "very damaging" because it sends a confusing message to the public about the true dangers of other "class B" drugs.
The letter's signatories include Michael Rawlins, former head of the advisory council, and two former chief scientific advisers to the British government, David King and Robert May.
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