NEW CANNABIS LAWS GIVE KIDS 'WRONG SIGNAL'

Plans by the government to soften up the law on cannabis will send out the
"wrong message" to children.

The man the government put in charge of tackling drug problems is so upset
by the idea that he's quit.

The former 'drugs czar' Keith Hellawell does not like the government's
intention of downgrading cannabis from a Class B drug to the softer Class C
group.

He says he is worried about the rising numbers of young people using
cannabis, and that smoking the drug often leads to people trying harder drugs.

What difference will it make?

If the changes are introduced people would no longer be arrested for having
small amounts of cannabis on them.

Instead the police would hand out penalty tickets to users.

However, people caught and found guilty of selling cannabis could be sent
to prison for up to 10 years.

The proposals are expected to be announced by David Blunkett in Parliament
on Wednesday.

The government says the changes will free-up the police to fight hard drugs
like heroin and cocaine.