Trends UK: Illicit drug use hits record low after cops cease arresting minor pot violators

[lulz]

November 1, 2007 - London, UK

London, United Kingdom: Self-reported cannabis use among Britons has declined sharply in the three years following the government’s decision to downgrade pot possession to a non-arrestable offense, according to figures compiled last week by the Home Office’s annual Crime Survey.

The Home Office statistics show that marijuana use by young people age 16 to 24 has fallen approximately 20 percent since 2004. Overall, 21 percent of young people admit having tried pot, with eight percent of young people saying that they’ve used it in the past month. By contrast, more than twice this percentage of Americans age 18 to 25 say that they’ve used pot during the past 30 days, according to 2006 data reported by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA).

Among all age groups, only eight percent of Britons say they’ve used cannabis in the past year. Ten percent of the population said that they had used at least one illicit drug over the past year – the lowest percentage ever recorded by the British Crime Survey.

In July, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on lawmakers to increase marijuana penalties by rescheduling cannabis from a Class C to a Class B controlled substance. At that time, Brown claimed that downgrading pot’s legal status in 2004 had led to a significant increase in the drug’s use.

Under reclassification, police have the discretion to verbally warn – rather than arrest – adults found with small amounts of pot. Since the enactment of the policy, police seizures of cannabis have increased sharply, though the total number of citizens’ arrested for pot-related violations has fallen.

"A far smaller percentage of young people smoke cannabis in the United Kingdom than in America – despite Britain’s enactment of far more liberal pot policies," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "The Gordon Brown government would be taking a drastic step backwards by reverting to the sort of US-styled ‘Do drugs, do time’ mentality that has resulted in making America the world’s leader in illicit drug use and in the incarceration of its citizens for non-violent drug violations."

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at: paul@norml.org.

http://www.norml.com/index.cfm?Group_ID=7410

[Nature Boy]

I wouldn't say Britain's pot policies are far more liberal than the US system. Perhaps on a government level but medicinal marijuana and regional decriminalisation campaigns are unheard on green and pleasant land. And let's not even begin about Talk To Frank brain-poking commercials.

[t00cr4zy]

If you get caught with even a joint in the US you go to jail....if you get caught with a quarter bag in the UK you go home. And you wouldn't say pot policies are far more liberal?

[Bajeda]

Originally Posted by t00cr4zy

If you get caught with even a joint in the US you go to jail....if you get caught with a quarter bag in the UK you go home. And you wouldn't say pot policies are far more liberal?

Thats not true for all the US, unless you happen to get nabbed by a federal agent. Otherwise it depends on which state you are in and some states (and towns at times) are far more lenient than others. See Ann Arbor's (Michigan) pot laws if you need reassurance.

[t00cr4zy]

Some cops, in some cities/states. 90% of the time, you are going to jail. Although it is getting better.

In georgia I got arrested for some shake and stems in my fn carpet.