BBC - 1Xtra News - Documentaries -


	Last updated: Thursday 4 Sep 2008	1XTRA NEWS: THE REAL TALK OF THE STREETS

Homegrown - Cannabis

Documentaries home



	Hear the documentary

Cannabis is the UK's most widely used illegal drug with millions of people smoking it regularly. As the government moves towards reclassifying it - 1Xtra lifts the lid on ganja.

More than 60% of the weed smoked in the UK is also grown here. Ten years ago that figure was 11%. Overall use has dropped since it was downgraded from class B to C in 2004 despite concerns at the time that more people would be tempted to try it.

Four years on and the Government's recommended that it goes back to class B. The switch would see the maximum prison sentence for possession rise from two years to five. The 14 year maximum for dealers is the same as for class C drugs so won't change.

We hear from a former dealer who made £50,000 a year selling marijuana and also from someone who says smoking weed affected his schizophrenia. We also hear from Vernon Coker from the Home Office who is responsible for drugs policy.

Where do you stand on penalties for using, dealing or growing weed? Will reclassification make any difference? Why?

Ashley B
Cannabis being illegal doesn't make sence. It causes the drug to go into the control of criminals, it risks cannabis being coated with unsafe chemicals, it costs tax payers money to try and stop the problem. If it was legalised it could be taxed (which cannabis smokers would pay), dangerous strains could be banned (why go after seriously strong product when you can buy it legally?), it could be regulated, and for once, the government could produce correct information, rather than there "Frank" information.

cheyenne c
set the weed free