Cannabis, there I’ve said it. A word that brings forth more inflexibility of argument by both proponents and opponents than most. Terminology is always a problem, ‘Say no to drugs’ didn’t mean refuse medication from your doctor nor avoid food containing nutmeg (which is hallucinogenic). Similarly Cannabis is a generic name, of which there are two species.

Cannabis indica is not an illegal plant at all and its only use I have ever come across is some Italian cigarette papers which were loose in a card folder with rather pretty Indian designs on it. The papers themselves however reminded me of cheap council bog roll that one used to encounter in public lavatories especially at coastal resorts.

Cannabis sativa is the one that most people refer to simply as cannabis and which is illegal to grow in this country although it is not illegal to possess the seeds. They are sold in canary seed mixture because canaries tend to sing more if they eat them and are also sold by mail order from a number of sources. As far as I know throwing seeds onto hot coals and inhaling the fumes is a legal way of using this substance.

Our illustrious Home Secretary, previously Education Minister, David Blunkett, has now relegated Cannabis sativa from class B to class C. Oh dear, it’s on the scrap heap and will never now pass its examinations. Don’t set fire to the scrap heap by the way, you may find yourself double somersaulting backwards into a tree.

But to get back to reality for a minute what does the reclassification mean? If you are found in possession of the substance it will be confiscated and you will be cautioned. This is the usual procedure already. You will still be able to brought to Court for repeated offences as is the case now. I don’t see that this change in the law will have much practical effect at all, perhaps it is simply putting into law what is in practice already happening.

Mr. Blunkett announced his decision to the Select Committee which is already preparing a report on illegal drugs. Prophesies are always dangerous but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Cannabis sativa is permitted once again to be subscribed for persons with certain illnesses, Multiple Sclerosis springs to mind but there are others equally deserving. It has only been illegal under subscription since 1973 (and was completely legal until 1928) in the UK. But that is another subject for another time. In this article I have only been concerned with the Government’s recent actions and the possible legal consequences, not any moral aspects concerning usage of drugs.