As you know Gordon Brown is reviewing the classification of cannabis. As
 part of this he is holding a Public review to get the points of view of
 the country. This is our chance to get our point across. Initially this
 was in the form of quite a lengthy PDF file that needed to be downloaded
 and submitted this option is still available here
 
 http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication...onsultation.pdf
 
 Recently an online form has been made available to allow any UK citizen
 to have their say about drugs policy.
 
 This is available here
 
 http://surveys.ipsos-or.com/wix/p66924109.aspx
 
 This on line form consists of 7 questions as below
 
 1. What role do you think schools could play in better educating our
 young people about drugs? Have you heard of FRANK? Take a look at
 www.talktofrank.co.uk and tell us, do you think the messages about the
 highs and lows of drug use are right?
 
 2. We also know that drugs are major source of concern for parents -
 what more can we do to help parents, guardians and carers talk to their
 children and families about drugs? And what support should be available
 if family members get caught up in drugs?
 
 3. Did you know that the police have the power to confiscate drug
 dealers' houses, cash, cars and valuable possessions? Did you also know
 that the police can close drug dens within 24 hours? The police rely on
 communities for intelligence, what more can be done to help communities
 and their local police service work together? Do the police and local
 communities have all the legal powers they need to tackle drugs?
 
 4. The Government is committed to helping drug users build drug-free
 lives. Treatment, housing, employment and education are all vital. What
 more do you think Government, local services, the voluntary sector,
 private business and others can do to help people stay drug free?
 
 5. What information and action would reassure you that drug dealing and
 other drug-related nuisances were being tackled where you live?
 
 6. The Government remains concerned that drugs can look glamorous to
 young people. What more can we do to challenge this? Do you think we
 could do more through role models, including those from peer groups? How
 can we get more young people involved in challenging the drugs culture?
 
 7. The Government is concerned about skunk and stronger strains of
 cannabis, because of the reported serious mental health effects they can
 have. The Government is therefore consulting on whether to make cannabis
 a Class B drug (it is currently Class C) which could mean tougher
 penalties. What are your views? Do you think this will help?
 
 
 I think it is essential that all of us in the cannabis community have
 our points of view heard and that is why I urge all of us to respond to
 this questionnaire either in the long version or the new shorter on line
 questionnaire.
 
 I encourage you to be concise and intelligent in your answers using
 evidence that you can substantiate to get your point across. I know many
 of us feel quite angry about the way cannabis is portrayed by the media
 and Government spokesmen and the temptation may be to go "off on one" on
 our most cherished subject but in this instance I feel it would be
 counter-productive. I feel that our point of view is more likely to be
 heard if we can substantiate our points of view and in a way that can be
 understood by anyone who reads it.
 
 It may help others to put your response to some or all of the questions
 so that we have some factual intelligent answers to the questions so
 that others who may find it difficult may use them when they come to
 respond.