New Class for Drug

Task 1
Match the words on the left to the meanings on the right

asthma	grouping
classification	harder
consultation	strong
decline	crazy
downgrading	meeting
enforcement	regulation
irrational	abuse
Misuse	presume
potent	lowering rank
prejudge	Related to breathing
psychotic	A disease of the lungs
relapse	decline
reprimand	worsen
respiratory	continual
sustained	unpaid workers
tougher	unreasonable
unlimited	infinite
volunteers	punish

From The Times
July 19, 2007

Review heralds U-turn on classification of cannabis as ‘soft’ drug

Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
Gordon Brown signalled a tougher approach to “soft” drugs yesterday with a surprise announcement of the second review in two years of the classification of cannabis.
Concern has been raised over the increased use of more potent “skunk” forms of the drug. There have been fears that its use is linked to psychotic illness, depression and suicide among young people.
It is the second time in a week that the Prime Minister has revealed plans to reverse policies of Tony Blair’s Government. Last week Mr Brown effectively abandoned plans for a supercasino in Manchester and it is understood that the Home Office became aware of the proposed review of cannabis classification only in the past two days.
Next week, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, will publish a consultation paper on the next steps for the Government’s drug strategy, focusing on education and enforcement.
Mr Brown told MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions: “As part of the consultation, and the Cabinet discussed this yesterday, the Home Secretary will also consult on whether it is now right that cannabis should be moved from Class C to Class B.”
The Home Office said that it would ask the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to review the classification. A spokesman added: “It would be wrong to prejudge that review, which shows how seriously we take our priority of reducing drug-related harm.”
Cannabis was a Class B drug until it was downgraded in January 2004 by David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary. In January 2005, Charles Clarke, then the Home Secretary, asked the ACMD to review the downgrading decision. The committee recommended that the original decision to downgrade cannabis to a Class C drug should not be reversed.
The council said at the time that smoking cannabis may worsen asthma and damage the respiratory tract and that its use during pregnancy produced adverse effects on the child. It added that cannabis use may worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia and lead to a relapse in some patients. But it said: “For individuals, the current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases the lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by 1 per cent.”
It added: “The evidence for the existence of an association between frequency of cannabis use and the development of psychosis is, on the available evidence, weak.
“In the last year, over three million people appear to have used cannabis but very few will ever develop this distressing and disabling condition.
“And many people who develop schizophrenia have never consumed cannabis. Based on the available data the use of cannabis makes (at worst) only a small contribution to an individual’s risk for developing schizophrenia.”
In December 2005, the council reported that a slow decline in cannabis use had been sustained after reclassification and that there was “no evidence” of any short-term increase in consumption among young people.
In March, Vernon Coaker, the Home Office Minister, said that the Government had “no intention of reviewing the drug classification system”. He said: “Our priority is harm reduction, and we focus on enforcement, education and treatment.”
But in April, scientists showed for the first time how cannabis users can become paranoid and lose their grip on reality. A study led by Professor Philip McGuire, at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, looked at 15 male volunteers who were not regular users of cannabis.
It revealed that the drug’s most powerful active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), reduced activity in a part of the brain that helped to keep people sane. Brain scans carried out on the group showed that THC dampened down activity in the interior frontal cortex, which acted as a check on irrational thoughts and prevented inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Blunkett said in a statement that he was “quite relaxed” about the prospect of a review of his decision to downgrade the drug. The statement said: “It is worth reflecting that cannabis use amongst young people has fallen and the campaign to educate and inform young people has been the most successful government information programme in recent years.”
David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: “We have long called for the reclassification of cannabis based on the science and evidence available.” Tim Hollis, the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers drugs committee and the Chief Constable of Humberside, said: “We welcome a well-informed debate.”

Drug penalties
–– As a Class C drug, the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is two years, an unlimited fine or both. Dealing in a Class C drug can lead to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both
–– A young offender in possession of cannabis can receive a police reprimand, final warning or be charged, depending on the seriousness of the offence
–– It is unlikely that adults caught in possession of cannabis will be arrested. Most offences of possession result in a warning and confiscation of the drug, but they can be prosecuted if it is a repeat offence
–– Possession of a Class B drug can lead to five years in jail, an unlimited fine or both
–– Dealing in Class B drugs can lead to up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both
*Source: Times database
Task 2
Use one of the new words in the following sentences

1. The police will……… the criminals for escaping.
2. If you have a good connection you can have……… access to the internet.
3. Some people have an………. fear of spiders called Arachnophobia.
4. Most people who work for charities are……….
5. The army had to retreat after……… attacks.
6. There has been a large ……… in the use of typewriters.
7. A ……… can happen when recovering from an illness.
8. Many children in cities suffer from……….
9. Bronchitis is a ……… disease.
10. My mobile phone is too expensive so I’m thinking of ……… to a cheaper one.
11. It is a mistake to……… people based on how they look..
12. Drug……… is a problem in inner cities.
13. The police take care of law……….
14. Marie has had a ……… with her doctor today.
15. To start a war would be……….
16. Morphine is a very……… pain killer.
17. Exams have become ……… since I was a child.
18. Taxonomy is another word for……….

 

Task 3
Answer these questions

1. Which group of people are at risk of psychotic illness, depression and suicide?

3. When was cannabis downgraded from a class B drug?

4 By how much does the use of cannabis increase the risk of schizophrenia?

5. What showed that THC dampened down activity in the interior frontal cortex?

6. What is the maximum prison sentence for dealing in class B drugs?

Task 4
Find four examples of the full infinitive – to + verb

 

Task 5
Discuss these questions

 

• Do you think cannabis should be controlled more?
• Are the laws the same in your country?
• Who should be responsible to pay for the treatment of people with mental problems due to cannabis?
• What do you think will happen next?

 

 Task 6
Debate – In two groups the class should discuss this article. One group should act as the people who want to put stricter penalties on cannabis, the other should represent a group who want to legalise it.

What can the government do?

What are the people’s rights?

What are the laws?

Who should pay for the treatment of drug addicts?

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2100299.ece

 

 

Answers
Task 1

classification	grouping
tougher	harder
potent	strong
psychotic	crazy
consultation	meeting
enforcement	regulation
Misuse	abuse
prejudge	presume
downgrading	lowering rank
respiratory	Related to breathing
asthma	A disease of the lungs
relapse	decline
decline	worsen
sustained	continual
volunteers	unpaid workers
irrational	unreasonable
unlimited	infinite
reprimand	punish

Task 2

1. reprimand
2. unlimited
3. irrational
4. volunteers
5. sustained
6. decline
7. relapse
8. asthma
9. respiratory
10. downgrading
11. prejudge
12. Misuse
13. enforcement
14. consultation
15. psychotic
16. potent
17. tougher
18. classification

 

Task 3

1. Young people
2. Class B
3. January 2004.
4. 1%.
5. Brain scans.
6. 14 years.

 

Task 4

To reverse
To prejudge
To review
To downgrade