The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7090 p499
April 1, 2000 News

Police Foundation report recommends less harsh drug enforcement

A Police Foundation report on drug-related crime has recommended a general down-grading of the most common drug offences, such as possession of small amounts of cannabis or ecstasy for personal use. The report, commissioned in 1997 (PJ, August 30, 1997, p316) and published on March 28, does not say that the laws surrounding Controlled Drugs and drug abuse need to be changed. Instead, it suggests that the classification of drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as class A, B or C should be reviewed to take account of the development of medical, sociological and scientific knowledge over the past 30 years. Specifically it suggests the downgrading of LSD and ecstasy from Class A to Class B, and all forms of cannabis (currently Class B) and pure cannabinols (Class A) to Class C. Possession of Class C drugs is not an arrestable offence. It also says that the supply and possession of cannabis and cannabis resin should be permitted for medical purposes. A number of the report's recommendations are of direct relevance to pharmacy practice.

Rolling a "spliff"

The report calls for the repeal of Section 9A of the Act, which creates an offence of supplying "paraphernalia" for drug abuse, albeit with an exemption for pharmacists supplying hypodermic syringes. It suggests extending the exemption to other products and placing it in Section 19, which deals with incitement to commit an offence, so that pharmacists are not at risk of prosecution for incitement.
It also calls for a national register of all private prescriptions for CDs so that private prescribing can be monitored. The issue of private prescriptions is seen as problematic by the report's authors because they are provided to people of limited resources in return for payment.
The Police Foundation report refers to a Royal Pharmaceutical Society report on services for drug misusers, which it received while it was collecting evidence (PJ, March 21, 1998, p418). Mrs Christine Glover, now the Society's President, chaired the Society working party that produced the report and appeared before the inquiry committee to give evidence.
The Society's report on services for drug misusers sets out 59 recommendations and should be given urgent and sympathetic consideration by the Government, the Police Foundation says. The foundation report draws particular attention to a number of the Society's suggestions. These include reviewing the rules on handwriting exemptions on CD prescriptions, allowing pharmacists to amend instalment prescriptions after contacting prescribers, making instalment dispensing rules more user friendly and a 14-day maximum treatment period on prescriptions for drug misusers.
The Police Foundation is a charity which aims to provide an independent forum for the analysis and discussion of policing issues and to contribute to policy development. Its drugs inquiry committee was chaired by Viscountess Runciman.
"Drugs and the law: report of the independent inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Police Foundation, 1 Glyn Street, London SE11 5RA (tel 020 7582 3744, fax 020 7587 0671), ISBN 0 947692 47 9, price £20.