The new British cannabis law took effect on 29 January. The drug has been downgraded to the same status as anabolic steroids and anti-depressants. This means that cannabis possession will no longer lead to arrest in most cases. According to a new poll of 2,500 Britons 52 percent said they support reclassification.

Under the new law, cannabis possession will be illegal but will "ordinarily not be an arrestable offence". Instead, police will usually give a warning and the drug will be confiscated. Under certain circumstances cannabis use will still lead to arrest, among them smoking the drug in public and possession of the drug inside or near places where there are children.

Several medical groups warned that the government's decision to downgrade cannabis could endanger public health. Dr. Peter Maguire of the British Medical Association said: "The BMA is extremely concerned that the public might think that reclassification equals safe. It does not. Chronic cannabis smoking increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema." (HempPharm.com comment: "Though this claim has never been backed by empirical data.")

But Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, said on 26 January that it was time to consider whether to go further. He said his members were investigating new ways of measuring the relative harmfulness of all illegal drugs.
(Sources: The Guardian of 27 January 2004, Western Gazette of 29 January 2004)

HempPharm.com comment: Cannabis is not toxic, hence it cannot pose any threat to one's health and certainly; should not be illegal. Regulation will eliminate the illegality and the violence and murder associated with this black market. How come now that Marijuana is a safe and effective medicine, and it is still not legal? (except in the Netherlands)