IT'S NOW A VERY GOOD DAY TO GO SOFT ON SPLIFFS

Spin Storm As Blunkett 'Legalises' Pot

CANNABIS was effectively legalised last night as Home secretaryDavid
Blunkett eased pot-taking laws.

His bombshell announcement sparked claims that the timing was designed to
ensure the news got 'buried' by the IRA arms pledge.

The new spin storm followed the row over shamed Labour aide Jo Moore, who
e-mailed colleagues after the World Trade Center was destroyed saying "It's
now a very good day to get out anything we want to bury."

Fired

And it came as Tories called for Ms Moore - special advisor to transport
supremo Stephen Buyers - to be sacked.

One Tory MP said: "It seems like too big a coincidence that we've had all
these announcements on the same day as our opposition debate on Jo Moore
and her advice to bury bad news."

Mr Blankett's controversial decision will end arrests for possessing or
using small quantities of the drug for personal consumption.

He will also clear the way for victims of multiple sclerosis and arthritis
to use it for medical purposes.

The drug has been down-graded from Class B - which includes substances like
amphetamines - to Class C which covers prescription drugs.

While still technically illegal, it is now unlikely that police will charge
cannabis users - unless they are suspected of other offences.

Class A 'hard' drugs like crack cocaine and heroin remain banned.
Yesterday's announcement, which was welcomes by police chiefs and unopposed
by Tories, came just two months after Tony Blair said he was AGAINST
legalising cannabis.

But Mr Blunkett angrily denied claims he was trying to 'bury' the news.

He told MPs: "reclassification will allow police to refocus their resources
on Class A and B drugs.

"It will both lighten their load and make more sense on the streets.

"We have the support of many of those engaged in law enforcement."

He denied he was opening the door to Amsterdam-style coffee shops where
cannabis is sold openly.

Pro-cannabis groups welcomed the move.

And Mark Littlewood, of the civil rights group Liberty, said it was a
"small but welcome step."

Former Tory deputy leader Peter Lilley, who has called for pot to be
legalised, said: "I e welcome the Government's U-turn as a move in the
right direction."

Mr Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, added: "Unfortunately, it does not
achieve the real prize which would be to break the link between the supply
of cannabis and hard drugs."

Pushers

"Sooner or later the Government will have to licence some legal outlets so
that cannabis users are no longer driven into the arms of hard drug pushers."

But the British Lung Foundation warned about the risks of lung cancer.

And Glen Smyth, of the Police Federation, said: "We need to be careful
before rushing into anything drastic. Cannabis is not safe."

Anti-drug campaigner Janet Betts whose daughter Leah died after taking
ecstasy at 18, said: "I've never met one heroin addict who didn't start on pot."