TORIES PLEDGE CANNABIS RETHINK

Plans for a softer line on cannabis could be reversed by a future Tory
government, shadow chancellor Michael Howard has said.

Mr Howard, a former home secretary, said he believed the proposal to
downgrade cannabis from class B to class C was "misguided".

The plan means possession of small amounts of the drug will no longer be an
arrestable offence.

Mr Howard told the BBC One's Breakfast with Frost: "I think David Blunkett
has made a mistake.

"I would be astonished if when we return to government we stick to the
policy that the introduced this last week."

'Confusing'

Home Secretary Mr Blunkett wants to free up police resources to tackle hard
drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

But critics say it will send out a confusing message to young people and
encourage drug use.

The home secretary is believed to have been influenced by the softer line
on cannabis taken by police in London's Brixton, as part of a controversial
pilot scheme.

Mr Blunkett said the experiment, which has seen an increase in arrests of
hard drug dealers, will now be extended across London.

Problems

The plan to downgrade cannabis to a Class C drug was attacked as "muddled
and dangerous" by shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin.

The decision was in response to a report by MPs arguing that drugs policy
should focus on tackling the problems caused by heroin addicts.

The change will put cannabis on a par with anti-depressants and steroids.

Police will retain the power to arrest marijuana users in certain
"aggravated" cases, such as when the drug is smoked near children.

Mr Blunkett will also raise the maximum sentence for dealers of class B and
C drugs from five years to 14 years.