Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Julian Brazier (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 23 May 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs Intervention Programme

Question: May I take the Minister back to his answer on cannabis to my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis)? Will he explain to the House how it harms the suppliers of hard drugs to say to the nation's young people that they will get away with a slap on the wrist if they take cannabis but that they must buy cannabis from criminals, which is the ridiculous half-way house to which he has taken the law on cannabis?

Answer: The hon. Gentleman has misunderstood my point, which was that it was important that the police could focus all their attention on the most dangerous and harmful drugs, such as crack cocaine and heroin. It does not mean that cannabis is not harmful or illegal; it remains illegal. The police can focus their resources and, frankly, the message to young people is credible. If we argue that cannabis is as harmful as crack cocaine or heroin, we will not be credible with the young people whom we are trying to get off drugs.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 434 c410
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Children Drugs Misuse Young people Drug interventions programme Crime prevention Rehabilitation
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk