SCP - Seniors congratulate Gordon Brown on the reclassification of cannabis

The Senior Citizens Party (www.seniorcitizensparty.org.uk), which represents the 20.6 million Seniors age 50 or over who make up 43% of the voting population, congratulates Prime Minister Gordon Brown on his decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug, overruling his own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Party Leader, Grahame Leon-Smith, said: "Gordon Brown has now stated publicly that: 'His job is to listen', and we very much welcome this, but he should listen to the voters and not to highly paid advisers who often have their own agendas." The Senior Citizens Party opposed the downgrading of cannabis to a Class C drug in 2004 by the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, as did the overwhelming majority of the population, but the Government refused to listen and sent a clear message to young people that smoking cannabis was perfectly acceptable, which has resulted in a significant increase in schizophrenia and crime. It is well known that the vast majority of drug addicts start with cannabis and move on to harder drugs when cannabis no longer gives them the 'kicks' that they want.

The Senior Citizens Party believes that the only way to substantially reduce drug taking and the consequential crime is to operate a zero tolerance attitude to anyone found in possession of drugs including cannabis by introducing a fixed penalty of £50 for a first offence, £100 for a second, and a suspended prison sentence for a third or subsequent offence, suspended on condition that offenders attend an initial residential anti-drug abuse course and continuing regular monthly sessions until they are 'clean'.

ENDS


NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Senior Citizens Party represents the largest demographic group in the UK, the 20.6 million people age 50 or over who make up 43% of the voting population.

For further information, a quote or an interview, please contact the Party Leader, Grahame Leon-Smith on 01932-874303 (Direct Line) or Mobile: 07509 047363.