Reprieve on fines for cannabis use
Friday 23 January 2009 20:00 EST
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Cannabis users will not face fines when the drug is reclassified next week.
The drug will be moved from class C to class B on Monday, but delays in Parliament mean police will not be able to issue new fines until later in the week.
Under the new regime, police will issue a warning to anyone caught with cannabis for a first offence. A second offence should result in an £80 fine and penalty notice, with a third "strike" leading to arrest. But earlier this week the order to make cannabis use an offence punishable with the penalty notice and fine was withdrawn from Parliament.
It is not due to be debated on Monday and will come into force on Wednesday, a Home Office spokesman said.