The government's former Drugs Tsar, Keith Hellawell, resigned this morning as a government advisor on drugs.

He's protesting over plans to be announced later today to re-classify cannabis as a class C drug.

This means that although cannabis remains illegal, it will no longer be possible to arrest people for possessing a small amount of the drug.

Mr Hellawell told Breakfast that he'd been kept out of the decisison over re-classifying cannabis.

"It's an initiative of the home secretary personally," he said.

"It gives the wrong message. It's being hailed as victory for the people who want a softer message on drugs. We're already seeing the consequences in Brixton.

"It creates a fog in which people do not know which way to go.

"Cannabis is a dangerous substance. It affects your driving and other forms of behaviour"

click here to watch Keith Hellawell's interview in full

Many of you e-mailed us about the downgrading of cannabis this morning.

Click here to e-mail us with your views

In the UK, illegal drugs are classified into three main categories.

They can be Class A, B or C, with A attracting the most serious punishments and fines.

Class A drugs include

Heroin Cocaine Ecstasy LSD

Drugs are classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Drugs such as heroin, methadone, cocaine, crack and Ecstasy, LSD and amphetamines (speed) if prepared for injection fall into Class A.

Conviction for possession, in a Crown Court, can lead to a maximum seven year prison sentence and a fine.

The maximum penalty for trafficking is life imprisonment plus a fine.

Class B

Class B drugs include amphetamines (speed), and barbiturates.

Class B drugs include

Amphetamines (non-injection) Barbiturates

The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug, if the case reaches Crown Court, is five years, plus a fine.

For trafficking, the sentence can be up to 14 years, plus a fine.

Downgrading

Last year, the Runciman inquiry called for cannabis to be downgraded to a Class C drug.

Class C drugs include

Mild amphetamines Tranquillisers Anabolic steroids

Class C, the lowest class of drugs, includes mild amphetamines (such as slimming tablets) and Anabolic Steroids.

Benzodiazepine drugs such as Temazepam and Valium are also categorised as Class C drugs.

Maximum sentences are two years for possession and five years for trafficking.

Under the change announced by the Home Secretary, possession of cannabis would remain a criminal offence and would still carry the maximum sentences for Class C drugs.

But if a person was stopped by the police and found to have cannabis on them, they could be given a warning, a caution or a summons to court.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence:

• to unlawfully possess a controlled drug
• to possess a controlled drug with intent to supply it
• to unlawfully supply (sell/give/share) a controlled drug
• to allow premises you occupy or manage to be used for the smoking or use of drugs

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