CANNABIS GOES BACK TO CLASS B DESPITE DRUG EXPERTS' VERDICT

Cannabis will be upgraded to a Class B drug next year even though the
head of the Government's advisory body says that the change is
neither warranted nor likely to achieve the desired effect.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, announced the reversal yesterday of
the Government's earlier decision to downgrade the drug. But under18s
caught with it will not be treated any more harshly, to avoid
criminalising them.

Punishment for the over18s will increase from the existing
"confiscate and warning" for a first offence to a possible penalty
notice for disorder on a second offence followed by arrest and
prosecution for a third offence.

Although the new jail term for possession rises from two to five
years, it is unlikely that anyone will be imprisoned for simple
possession of cannabis for personal use. But extra years are to be
added to jail sentences handed out to those caught dealing in
hospitals, schools, universities and prisons.

The tougher punishments are to be introduced after the Advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the Government's official body, was
told of patients in psychiatric hospitals ordering drugs by telephone
and having them delivered within 15 minutes.

Reclassification will not take effect until early next year because
Parliament has to approve the decision.

A report from the advisory council concluded that the health dangers
from cannabis did not justify its inclusion in the higher category
and that it should remain a Class C drug. Professor Sir Michael
Rawlins, chairman of the council, said: "Changing the classification
of cannabis is neither warranted nor will it achieve the desired effect."

The report said that scientific evidence pointed to a "probable, but
weak, causal link between psychotic illness, including schizophrenia,
and cannabis use". However, it added that in the population as a
whole, the drug played only a "modest role" in the development of
these conditions.

Ms Smith said that the Government was overruling the council because
she was unwilling to "risk the future health of young people". She
told MPs: "Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt
about the 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."

The Home Secretary said she was concerned about the mental health
effects of smoking super-strength skunk cannabis, which now accounts
for 81 per cent of cannabis seized on the streets. There were also
suggestions that young people were "binge smoking" to get the maximum high.

Ms Smith accepted the remaining 20 recommendations from the advisory
council, including a concerted public health campaign to reduce the
widespread use of cannabis, a renewed focus on preventing youngsters
starting to use the drug and clear advice for parents on what to do
if their children are found with an illegal drug.

The council's report also called for curbs on shops that sell
cannabis paraphernalia, such as pipes.

Sir Michael said that the Government was free to accept or reject
expert advice. "It really has to be tackled as a public health
problem not a criminal justice problem. This is not a criticism of
the Prime Minister and Home Secretary. All politicans tend to think
there must be a criminal justice solution to it. It is more
complicated and subtle that that."