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The Classification of Cannabis Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

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The Classification of Cannabis Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
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

1.

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 classification of substances being specified under Part I, Part II, and Part III of Schedule 2 to the Act. The classification of drugs, in Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, is based on the harm they may cause: Class A (the most harmful) includes morphine and diamorphine (heroin). Class B (an intermediate category) includes amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis and cannabis resin. Class C (the least harmful) includes anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines and growth hormones. 1.4 When advising on the harmfulness of drugs, the Council takes account of the physical harm that they may cause, their pleasurable effects, associated withdrawal reactions after chronic use, and the harm that misuse may bring to families and society at large. The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (Statutory Instrument 2001/3998) defines the categories of people authorised to supply and possess drugs controlled under the Act. In these Regulations, drugs are categorised under five schedules: Schedule 1 includes drugs such as cannabis that are not, conventionally, used for medical purposes. Possession and supply are prohibited without specific Home Office approval. Schedule 2 includes morphine and diamorphine and are subject to special requirements relating to their
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