§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in view of the mental and physical health problems associated with cannabis use, has the Department of Health made any representations to the Home Office in connection with the policies of de-classifying cannabis to class B and of reduced enforcement activity by the police. [HL1367]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Department of Health provides support to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which considered the appropriate classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act and which recommended to the Home Secretary that cannabis should be reclassified. The department assisted the ACMD and ensured up-to-date research on health problems associated with cannabis was made available to the Home Office. The 89WA Government consider that cannabis is a harmful drug and that its possession should remain illegal.
Police enforcement activity is not an issue on which it would be appropriate for the department to make representations to the Home Office.