CANNABIS LAWS TO BE STRENGTHENED

Cannabis Is to Be Reclassified As a Class B Drug, Jacqui Smith Has Said.

The home secretary said that because of the "increased strength" of
some types, she wanted to reverse Tony Blair's 2004 downgrading of
the drug to class C.

She highlighted "uncertainty at the least" on the future impact on
young people's mental health from cannabis.

Her statement to MPs came despite the Advisory Council on the Misuse
of Drugs' review - commissioned by Gordon Brown - saying it should
stay class C.

'Psychotic Illness'

The maximum penalty for possession of a class B drug is five years in
prison, whereas it is two years for a class C drug.

Since cannabis was downgraded there has been widespread concern about
the increased prevalence of stronger "skunk" varieties.

Ms Smith said this now accounted for 80% of the cannabis seized on
the streets and the drug was nearly three times stronger than in 1995.

She added that the government's change of heart - which is subject to
parliamentary approval - was part of a "relentless drive".

Ms Smith told MPs: "There is a compelling case for us to act now,
rather than risk the future health of young people.

"Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt about the
potential harm that will be caused, we must err on the side of
caution and protect the public.

"I make no apology for that - I am not prepared to 'wait and see'."

In its report, Cannabis: Classification And Public Health, the
advisory council described cannabis as a "significant public health issue".

But it said it should still remain a class C drug, as the risks were
not as serious as those of class B substances, such as amphetamines
and barbiturates.

The report said the evidence suggested a "probable, but weak, causal
link between psychotic illness, including schizophrenia, and cannabis use".

However, in the population as a whole, it played only a "modest role"
in the development of these conditions.

Council chairman Sir Michael Rawlings told BBC Radio 4's World at
One: "The strength of things like skunk hasn't really changed very
much over the last few years but it's now more widely used... The
question of potency is a very complex area."

Campaign

The advisory council did not look at the message conveyed to the
public or the impact on policing, which it is not legally obliged to do.

Sir Michael added: "The government may want to take other matters
into account. That's their right. They are the government."

In its report the council called for a campaign to reduce the use of
cannabis, particularly focusing on young people.

It also voiced concern over the prevalence of domestic cannabis farms
supplying the market and the involvement of organised criminal networks.

Ms Smith said she accepted the vast majority of the council's
recommendations, but not the classification of the drug.

And Gordon Brown said at prime minister's questions that he believed
making cannabis a class B drug was supported by the public and the police.

Last month he said he wanted to "send a message" to young people that
using the substance was "unacceptable".

Class C includes substances such as tranquilisers, some painkillers,
GHB (so-called "liquid ecstasy") and ketamine - from class B.
Possession of class C drugs is treated largely as a non-arrestable offence.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said that the government's reversal
of its earlier decision showed the downgrading of cannabis had been a
mistake and accused ministers of "dithering".

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said that, as its
advice had been disregarded, ministers should disband the advisory
council of experts and replace it with an advisory council of
"tabloid newspaper editors".

Labour MP Chris Mullin, who was chairman of the Commons home affairs
select committee when it recommended that cannabis was downgraded to
class C, said: "The government should follow the advice of the
experts rather than that of the tabloids."

But Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity
SANE, welcomed Ms Smith's decision, adding: "We believe there are too
many casualties to await the results of further education and research."

However, Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "There is
no evidence that reclassifying cannabis to Class B will reduce levels
of use, levels of harm or the availability of the drug."

[sidebar]

SKUNK

So-called because it has a very strong smell

Three times stronger than other types of cannabis

Contains much higher levels of the active ingredient -
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Now accounts for between 70 and 80% of samples seized by police

Six years ago it accounted for 15% of samples