Runciman Report
Encyclopedia
The Runciman Report was a 2000 Police Foundation
(2000) inquiry into the United Kingdom
's Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
(MDA) authored by Viscountess Runciman.
of relative harm and consequently that cannabis
should be reclassified to Class C
from Class B
. This was on the grounds that making cannabis possession a non-arrestable offence would reduce the number of "otherwise law abiding, mainly young people" being criminalised and potentially receiving a custodial sentence to the detriment of their futures (p 7). It was also perceived that this could remove a source of friction between the police and the wider community and that this would free up police time (Monaghan 2008: 213). It also argued for the reclassification of LSD
and MDMA from Class A
to Class B and a reduction in the maximum sentence for possession of Class As, from seven years to twelve months. Lady Runciman's report also recommended the creation of a new offence of drug dealing.
Police Foundation
The Police Foundation, of Washington, DC, is a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping the police be more effective in doing their job. It was founded on July 22, 1970 by the Ford Foundation, and has continued to receive its primary support from that foundation, although it now has a large...
(2000) inquiry into the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is an Act of Parliament which represents UK action in line with treaty commitments under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic...
(MDA) authored by Viscountess Runciman.
Recommendations
It called for the classification system to be more closely based on the scientific evidenceScientific evidence
Scientific evidence has no universally accepted definition but generally refers to evidence which serves to either support or counter a scientific theory or hypothesis. Such evidence is generally expected to be empirical and properly documented in accordance with scientific method such as is...
of relative harm and consequently that cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
should be reclassified to Class C
Class C
The term Class C may refer to:* Class C amplifier, a category of electronic amplifier*Class C , a defunct class in minor league baseball in North America* Class C stellar classification for a carbon star...
from Class B
Class B
The term Class B may refer to:* Class B amplifier, an electronic amplifier category* Class B stars* Class B , a defunct class in minor league baseball in North America* Class B airspace class, as defined by the ICAO for the busiest U.S...
. This was on the grounds that making cannabis possession a non-arrestable offence would reduce the number of "otherwise law abiding, mainly young people" being criminalised and potentially receiving a custodial sentence to the detriment of their futures (p 7). It was also perceived that this could remove a source of friction between the police and the wider community and that this would free up police time (Monaghan 2008: 213). It also argued for the reclassification of LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
and MDMA from Class A
Class A
Class A may refer to:* Class A airfield, a standardised design for military airfields built throughout Britain from 1942* Class A airspace, an airspace class defined by the ICAO* class A amplifier, a category of electronic amplifier...
to Class B and a reduction in the maximum sentence for possession of Class As, from seven years to twelve months. Lady Runciman's report also recommended the creation of a new offence of drug dealing.
See also
- Cannabis in the United KingdomCannabis in the United KingdomCannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the United Kingdom. It is a plant which is not native to the British Isles but one that was probably introduced from Continental Europe towards the end of the Roman occupation...
- Cannabis rescheduling
- Legalise Cannabis Alliance
- Legal issues of cannabisLegal issues of cannabisThe legality of cannabis has been the subject of debate and controversy for decades. Cannabis is illegal to consume, use, possess, cultivate, transfer or trade in most countries...
Further reading
- Monaghan, Mark. 2008. "Appreciating cannabis: the paradox of evidence in evidence-based policy making". Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice 4: 209--231.