BLUNKETT'S SOFTER LINE ON CANNABIS 'NOT ENOUGH'

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, should go further than this week's legal
downgrading of cannabis and decriminalise or legalise the drug, according to
a survey for The Telegraph.

More than 50 per cent of those questioned believed the sale and possession
of cannabis - to be downgraded from a Class B drug to Class C on Thursday -
should no longer be a criminal offence.

The YouGov survey found 28 per cent favoured decriminalising the drug,
making it a minor offence, while 23 per cent wanted full legalisation.

Despite rising concern about links between cannabis and mental illness, only
43 per cent believed selling or possessing the drug should remain a criminal
offence.

The survey of more than 2,500 people was one of the largest polls on public
attitudes to drugs.

A majority of those questioned - 52 per cent - expressed approval of the
Home Secretary's decision to reclassify cannabis.

The survey revealed, however, that 44 per cent of people regard cannabis as
"seriously addictive". But almost a third said alcohol was a greater problem
in society than drugs.

Prof John Henry of Imperial College, a leading drugs expert, said the survey
appeared to betray a lack of awareness about the adverse health effects of
cannabis and its role as a "gateway" drug.

"There would not be a drugs problem if people did not start on drugs, but
the Government seems to be saying to young people 'Hey, it's OK to try this
drug'," he said.

"This is a dangerous time to be relaxing the law. Cannabis is a relatively
new drug, there are more users and it is getting stronger. But we don't have
enough experience or data to know what the long-term effects are. There are
heart and lung problems similar to those created by tobacco and there is a
definite link with schizophrenia.

"At a time when tobacco smoking is being clamped down on, it seems
contradictory to be lifting the lid off cannabis."

Addaction, the drug treatment charity, said the poll reflected "a shift in
understanding" to supporting a proportionate response to different drugs.

Rosie Brocklehurst, a spokesman for Addaction, said she was worried about
"confusing messages" coming from different police forces about enforcement
of the new cannabis law.

"The majority of people seem to understand why cannabis should be
reclassified," she said. "Many have had the experience of how damaging the
postcode lottery in enforcement has been. Young peoples' lives are blighted
for ever when they are forced into the criminal justice system and through
it some are coerced into a harder drug culture."