ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE MISUSE OF DRUGS

The classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE MISUSE OF DRUGS

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Background
1.1 In October 2001 the Home Secretary asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (the ‘Council’) to review the classification of cannabis preparations in the light of current scientific evidence. The Council is established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to keep under review the drug situation in the United Kingdom and to advise government ministers on the measures to be taken for preventing the misuse of drugs or for dealing with the social problems connected with their misuse. In particular, the Council is required to advise on the appropriate
In Scotland, lifetime use of those aged under 25 years in 2000 was 34 per cent (compared to 40 per cent 1996) and use in the last year was 15 per cent (compared to 25 per cent in 1996). Between 1995 and 1998 lifetime use amongst the same group in Nor thern Ireland rose from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. In 1998 the Nor thern Ireland rates for use in the last year and last month were 7 per cent and 4 per cent. Local and national surveys indicate that cannabis use is highest amongst adolescents (aged 16 to 19 years) and young adults (aged 20 to 29 years), and more prevalent in males than females (see Table 1). Although there may be some geographical differences, there is substantial consumption in both rural and urban parts of England and Wales, and amongst adolescents and young adults from wide social and educational backgrounds. Use in Scotland and Northern Ireland is considerably lower. Table 1: Use (%) of cannabis in the last 12 months, by age and gender, 2000 British Crime Survey3 (England and Wales) Age (years) Male Female All

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16–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–59 All 16–59 All 16–29

28 30 23 15 9 6 3 12 27

21 24 12 6 4 3 1 7 18

25 27 17 10 6 4 2 9 22

3 Ramsay et al (2001) – see bibliography.

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THE CLASSIFICATION OF CANNABIS UNDER THE MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1971

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The number of seizures, by police and customs officers, increased in line with the