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U.K. May Reverse Marijuana Policy
December 13, 2005

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Research Summary

Great Britain recently eased laws regarding marijuana possession, but Prime Minister Tony Blair's government may reconsider that move after new research showed that the drug may be linked to mental illness.

The Independent reported Dec. 11 that research from the U.K.'s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, linking regular use of potent marijuana with psychosis, could open the door for a reversal of the decision two years ago to downgrade the drug from a "B" to "C" classification. Blair's current Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, has already requested that the decision be reexamined.

"There is no barrier to reclassification of cannabis on the grounds of political embarrassment. This was [former Home Secretary] David Blunkett's decision, not something agreed by the Cabinet," said a Blair government source.

Some police may oppose returning marijuana to class B status, however, since the rationale for downgrading the drug in the first place was to free up resources for combatting class A drugs like heroin.

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