Pub cannabis use to be discussed

Trade leaders have demanded a meeting with the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to discuss cannabis use in pubs.

They are angry that licensees have not been given any clear guidance on how to treat cannabis users after the Government announced a softening on the law of cannabis use leading to no more arrests for using the drug from next spring.

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association's chief executive Tony Payne is heading up the calls for urgent clarification. He said: "Licensees are confused about what action to take if people are smoking cannabis on their premises. And if customers know they are not going to get arrested they are more likely to do it even though it will still be illegal.

"It's putting more pressure on the licensed trade. I will be asking for a meeting with ACPO and the Home Office so that we can look at drawing up some kind of guidelines on the matter."

Public relations manager at the British Institute of Innkeeping Georgina Wald agreed that guidelines were desperately needed.

She added: "This is a tricky situation. We suggest that licensees develop a strong relationship with their local police licensing officer and other licensing authorities and let them know what their drugs policy is."

But Nick Bish, of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "It's up to licensees what goes on in their premises. Smoking cannabis in a pub will still be illegal and licensees can legitimately throw people out for doing so."

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the move last week which involves downgrading cannabis from a class b drug to class c. This will cut the maximum penalty for its possession from five years to two, and will mean people caught with the drug for their own use will not be arrested.

Many believe it is the first step in the lengthy process of decriminalising the drug.