• Question: How come some people in other countries are allowed to take cannibis when here it is illegal??

    Asked by fatlouie21 to Suzi, Damien, Rachael, Simon, Tim on 16 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by morgansheridan.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi @fatlouie21
      This is a brilliant question and a very important one.
      The decision as to whether substances are illegal or not is made by the Government. Although they ask scientists for advice, they also have to consider other things like public opinion. Scientists in this country recommended that cannabis should be a Class C drug, which means although it is illegal, use would not carry a long term jail sentence. However, the Government wanted to send a strong message that using drugs is bad, so they raised it to a Class B drug.

      In other countries (like the Netherlands) they believe that being able to regulate the selling of cannabis (in the way that tobacco and alcohol sales are regulated in this country) is better than allowing drugs to be sold by ‘dealers’ on the street illegally, so they’ve done that.

      What do you think would be better?

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