Call for review of drug classification laws

The drug classification system should be changed so that it reflects the health and social risks that drugs pose, rather than potential criminal penalties, a committee of MPs has said.

The Science and Technology Committee said that the current classifications were "riddled with anomalies" and "clearly not fit for purpose".

Alcohol and tobacco should be included in the classifications, the committee said, in order to give the public "a better sense of the relative harms involved".

Currently, controlled drugs are listed in alphabetical categories, which reflect the kind of criminal penalties people can face for possessing or dealing the drug. The highest class, Class A, includes drugs such as heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, while Class B drugs include speed and barbiturates and Class C drugs include cannabis.

The report said that police regarded the classification system as "of little importance" at present and said that there should be a "decoupling" of penalties.

The committee also criticised the government's approach to classification, calling it "opaque" and suggesting that reviews appeared to be launched as "knee-jerk responses to media storms".

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which provides scientific advice to the government, was also criticised by the committee for "dereliction of duty" in failing to alert ministers of "serious flaws" in the rating system.

Commenting on the report, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Edward Garnier blamed the government's failure to produce a clear policy on drugs. He said: "We will study the Select Committee Report in detail, but what is and has been apparent for some time is the lack of clarity in this government's policy on illegal drugs.

"The downgrading of cannabis sent out the message that it was pretty harmless and will have encouraged youngsters to take it up. It is vital that we have strong and effective measures warning children of the dangers of drugs devoid of any confusion."

(KMcA)