NO 10 FEARS CANNABIS LINK TO HARD DRUGS

The Government has defended its policy of downgrading cannabis as an
illegal drug after a leaked study suggested users were being sold hard
drugs by dealers as well.

The report, written by the No 10 strategy unit, warned: "The vast
majority of local drug dealers will use cannabis as an easy way of
making money and increasing their client base. They will seek to
secure more hard drugs clients from among that base." It said both
hard drug and cannabis use was rising, and called for more research.

Cannabis was downgraded from a Class B to a Class C drug in 2004. The
Home Office said yesterday: "Cannabis is illegal and will remain so.
It is harmful and its use can lead to a wide range of physical and
psychological harms and hazards. The penalties for the possession,
cultivation, production and dealing of cannabis are tough."

It added that the classification would be kept "under close review".