F
firefox
New cannabis law comes into force
Cannabis will be downgraded to the same status as anabolic steroids and anti-depressants at midnight.
Home Secretary David Blunkett's move to reclassify dope - first set in motion more than two years ago - will mean possession of the drug will not lead to arrest in most cases.
In the biggest shake-up of Britain's drug laws for 30 years, cannabis will move from class B to class C.
Police will no longer arrest most of the 80,000 adults a year who are currently charged with possession offences.
Mr Blunkett admitted last week that he expected the move would lead him to "take a bit of stick over the next few weeks".
Because of reclassification, the law has been changed to allow officers to arrest for possession of class C drugs.
But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has drawn up guidelines which say arrests should only be made in aggravated circumstances, such as smoking a joint outside schools.
Under the new law, cannabis possession will be illegal but will "ordinarily not be an arrestable offence".
Instead, police will give an on-the-spot warning and the drug will be confiscated.
It remains unclear how closely forces will stick to the Acpo guidelines.
Cannabis will be downgraded to the same status as anabolic steroids and anti-depressants at midnight.
Home Secretary David Blunkett's move to reclassify dope - first set in motion more than two years ago - will mean possession of the drug will not lead to arrest in most cases.
In the biggest shake-up of Britain's drug laws for 30 years, cannabis will move from class B to class C.
Police will no longer arrest most of the 80,000 adults a year who are currently charged with possession offences.
Mr Blunkett admitted last week that he expected the move would lead him to "take a bit of stick over the next few weeks".
Because of reclassification, the law has been changed to allow officers to arrest for possession of class C drugs.
But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has drawn up guidelines which say arrests should only be made in aggravated circumstances, such as smoking a joint outside schools.
Under the new law, cannabis possession will be illegal but will "ordinarily not be an arrestable offence".
Instead, police will give an on-the-spot warning and the drug will be confiscated.
It remains unclear how closely forces will stick to the Acpo guidelines.
