Young people 'confused over cannabis' » Central government » 24dash.com

Young people could be forgiven for being confused about how seriously the Government and police take cannabis use.

First it was a Class B substance, then Class C, and now it is set to be Class B again.

The policy reversal announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today came despite expert advice that the drug's classification should not be changed.

Drugs charities accused Ministers of ignoring medical evidence and acting for "political" reasons in response to "scare stories".

After years of debate and research, former home secretary David Blunkett announced in 2001 that cannabis would be downgraded from Class B to Class C, the lowest category for illegal substances.

The move followed advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) that the substance was less harmful than other Class B drugs, such as amphetamines.

Since the 1970s, British laws have placed illicit drugs in one of three categories - A, B and C - based on the harm they can cause.

Possession of Class B drugs is punishable by up to five years in prison, while the penalty for Class C drugs is a maximum of two years.

The change to cannabis's status took effect in January 2004 and made possession of the drug a largely non-arrestable offence.

Some people even wrongly believed it had been decriminalised altogether.

Cannabis use dropped after it became a Class C drug, according to mental health charity Rethink.

But drugs policy has always been a hugely controversial issue, and there were immediate calls for it to be restored to Class B status.

Just a year later, in March 2005, the new home secretary, Charles Clarke, asked the ACMD to review the dangers of cannabis in the light of new studies.

In 2006 he decided against reversing Mr Blunkett's change despite evidence suggesting smoking the drug had a more serious effect on mental health than previously thought.

Particular concern was expressed about the dangers of super-strong "skunk" cannabis, which has become increasingly prevalent.

The more powerful strain accounted for just 15% of seized cannabis in 2002 but now makes up between 70% and 80%, initial results of a Home Office-funded project have shown.

Gordon Brown made little secret of his desire to see cannabis returned to Class B status.

Within weeks of becoming Prime Minister in June 2007, he had announced a fresh review of the issue.

Ms Smith assured the ACMD she had an "open mind" on the issue of reclassification ahead of the publication of its report today.

But ultimately she followed Mr Brown's wishes and decided cannabis should once more be a Class B substance.