Cannabis Consumption

[canikickit]

What exactly is the story with the laws on cannabis in the so-called United Kingdom?
I've gotten a lot of conflicting reports and it is a matter which holds a degree of interest with me...like on Euro News last night they said at Notting Hill there were plenty of examples of people enjoying the new laws, etc., etc., but I've heard the law makes fuck all difference, and what about that schmuck that opened a coffee shop(there was a programme about him on channel 4 or one of those stations about 3 months ago)?.....anyway Someone tell me and I'll decide whether its worth going.....oh yeah, another thing...are these laws relevant in Northern Ireland now aswell? (I should know that shit).

[Son of Scargill]

My understanding of the UK? cannabis laws is that it is now down to the individual officers or police authority's discretion on how to deal with possesion of small amounts.The recommended procedure is confiscation of your stash and a written caution for small amounts of cannabis.I presume that if you are ,as they say,a persistent offender then they will end up charging you with possession,although as cannabis is now in a lower category,the sentence/fine is reduced.It is still illegal,but less of a crime.If you are dealing/smuggling or in possession of largish amounts then they will prosecute,although again,the sentences are slightly lighter than before.As for N.I.,I'm not wholly sure.It is always claimed that it is a normal part of the UK? but as you probably know,many laws are totally different to the mainland.
In short,it is no longer worth a coppers time and effort to charge you with possession,but if they really don't like your face then they just might.
Hope this is some help.

[canikickit]

cheers, man.

[revolutionary spirit]

what is deemed a large amount

[trebboR]

Don't know about that in England, but in the Netherlands it's legal for 1 person to carry up 5 grams of cannabis. So I think it will probalby be almost the same amount in England.

[Felicia]

We can't carry any on us here (canada) As a matter of fact there is a marijuana 'hunt' going on right now by helicopter to try and find some plants and seize them, this is going on about an hour away from me. But the stuff is legal here for medicinal use.

[canikickit]

I think its a little different in the UK to the Netherlands...
over here (Ireland), you can be arrested for a fingernail of hash, but nothing can happen 'til a second offence, as far as I know. Most of the time the gaurds(cops) just "confiscate" it, probably for research.

[hawarameen]

Whats happened in the uk is that cannabis has been downgraded to a C class drug from a class B.

Class C is stuff like antidepressants etc. I think it is still illeagal to smoke in public so i dont know about the notting hill thing. I think its probably up to the officer at the time to decide if you have enough to be called a dealer.

That bloke who set up that coffee shop was funny. I think he was arrested either for having stolen portaloos in the shop or for the scene where he had this big container of weed and said to the camera "this may or may not be weed"

[Anonymous]

You'll get it confiscated from you but i dont think you get charged unless its near a school or something like that

(Edited by Funky Monk at 11:07 am on Aug. 29, 2002)

[Iyana]

trebbor are u robbert ? had to ask when I saw your name I saw robbert backwards... anyhow back to the subject. Cannabis is a beautiful thing ! I believe most of Europeans can not exceed the limit of 5 grams, cause Denmark have that same law. So does belgium. At a matter of fact denmark has a little town called Christianer, and once you enter the gates you'll see men and women with stands just selling weed w/ menues and entrees well this was back in 93. However Denmark has become a right wing country now, and I believe they have changed a whole lot of their laws.

[trebboR]

Yeah my name is Robbert, most of my friends call me Robo (don't know why). But do you know me Iyana? Or do I know you? I guess your from denmark and if so you probably are Frederick or Katrina. But if you know me I would like to know who you are :D.

[Pinko]

Possession in the UK can be argued for personal use if you are sensible. If you have a lot (an ounce or two) and it is in one lump, you can argue that it is for personal use (probably in court as this ammount you will be arresed for carrying). If it is chopped up into descrete packets (say eigths of an ounce), you will be done for possession with intent to supply. People have got away with growing 30 plants for personal use, they were terminally ill and the police had no evidence of them selling it on.
As hawarameen said, it has been declassified to a class C drug. If found with some (an eight or a quarter of an ounce) it will more than likely be confiscated and you will recieve an informal warning. More than a quarter of an ounce and you could be in hotter water. Ultimately nothing has changed, law has been altered to reflect the attitude of the police. You will have a hard time where the police are more strict and an easier time where the police are more liberal.
The cafés are a grey area. There is a way of getting around the law by selling pre-rolled joints, but it a technicality that you wont get away with in certain areas. We will see over the next year of two if the café culture is allowed to flourish.
If you are looking for a country to go and smoke it in public though, stick with Amsterdam. The UK isn't that liberal yet.

[trebboR]

Nice speech Pinko, only, you say "If you are looking for a country to go and smoke it in public though, stick with Amsterdam.". That is almost true. But you may not smoke cannabis in public in Holland. You may do it at somebody's home or in a coffeeshop but not in public like on a street or in school, although, if the police see you (even if your underage like me) they only warn you to take it easy, and don't make noise or something stupid like that.

[Son of Scargill]

Just read that the police have been given the guideline of 2 warnings/confiscations and the 3rd offense will be prosecutable.

[Iyana]

robert I do not know u but I just figured thats your name. as for my name... lets not worry about that :) however its far from any scandinavian name. I am persian, thats a hint for you.
Ciao for now