CANNABIS TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS MORE DANGEROUS DRUG IN GOVERNMENT U-TURN

Cannabis is set to be reclassified as a class B drug amid fears over
its effects on mental health, it was revealed today.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has made clear she intends to reverse her
predecessor David Blunkett's decision in 2004 to downgrade the drug to class C.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is due to report within
the next few months on whether cannabis should be reclassified but Ms
Smith has signalled that she is prepared to overrule the body if necessary.

The Home Secretary, whose stance is strongly backed by Gordon Brown,
believes the downgrading of cannabis sent the public the message that
it was harmless and legal to possess.

She is also concerned about the widespread availability of new
superstrength strains or "skunk" often produced in cannabis factories
by organised criminal gangs.

In her letter to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Ms
Smith said: "Though statistics show that cannabis use has fallen
significantly, there is a real public concern about the potential
mental health effects of cannabis use, in particular the use of
stronger forms of the drug, commonly known as skunk.

"This is in addition to the longitudinal studies undertaken in New
Zealand and the Netherlands that link cannabis use to mental health problems."

Senior Whitehall figures intimated Ms Smith had made up her mind the
drug should be returned to class B, which includes amphetamines and
barbiturates.

"The sentiment from No.10 and the Home Office is very much towards
reclassification," said a source.

Since reclassification, the police have taken a "softly, softly"
approach which sees those in possession of large amounts of cannabis
often let off with a warning and confiscation.

But as a class B drug, anyone caught in possession of cannabis could
face a five-year jail term and an unlimited fine. The penalty for
supplying would remain the same, with a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.

The change of mind was signalled by Mr Brown in one of his first acts
as Prime Minister.

He said: "Why I want to upgrade cannabis and make it more a drug that
people worry about is that we don't want to send out a message, just
like with alcohol, to teenagers that we accept these things."

Ms Smith is also under pressure from police officers to tighten the
law. The Association of Chief Police Officers, which originally
backed the downgrading, said that reclassification had created public
confusion about the legality of the drug.

Senior officers say they now want a UKP80 fixed penalty notice for
low-level cannabis possession, rather than the current warning.

Speaking recently, Tim Hollis, the chief constable of Humberside and
chairman of Acpo's drugs committee, said: "There is growing evidence
that the decision to downgrade from a B to a C drug led to confusion
in many people's minds about the legal status."

Class C drugs include tranquillisers, Valium and anabolic steroids.