HC Deb 12 May 1981 vol 4 c229W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has now considered the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs regarding its classification and penalties of controlled drugs, particularly cannabis, which were released in January 1979; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what persons and representatives of what groups and organisations were invited to submit evidence, either orally or in writing; from what countries or jurisdictions information or practical experience was sought and by what means; what persons offered to provide evidence and what was the response to their offers; and what persons and groups actually appeared to give evidence or submitted evidence in writing in connection with the report on a review of the classification of controlled drugs and penalties under schedules 2 and 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, its sub-committees or working groups.

Mr. Raison

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and its subsidiary bodies did not take formal evidence either orally or in writing in connection with its report on a review of the classification of controlled drugs. The membership of the bodies concerned represented a cross-section of interests and expertise in the control of drug abuse.

My right hon. Friend decided that it would be inappropriate for him to come to a view on the recommendations about cannabis until he had also had an opportunity of considering the results of the council's further study—which is not yet completed—of the scientific evidence on the effects of canabis resin.

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