Police want cannabis reclassified

Some types of cannabis are increasing in strength Home Secretary

Senior police are calling for cannabis to become a class B drug again after it was reported that a government advisory body will say it should remain class C.

The Superintendents' Association said downgrading the drug in 2004 had sent out the wrong message by implying cannabis was harmless and legal.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has also said this.

If it is reclassified, people caught carrying the drug would face up to five years in prison, rather than two.

Skunk

The BBC understands the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs - asked by the government to review the legal status of cannabis - will suggest it should retain its current classification.

But it appears the recommendation will go against the view of Gordon Brown, who seems to favour returning the drug to class B.

Some mental health charities have also come out in support of reclassification, voicing concerns over the strength of some forms of cannabis, in particular skunk.

Many heroin and cocaine users began their drug dependency with cannabis use in their teens Police Superintendents' Association

But others say public health education would be a better route.

In a statement, the Superintendents' Association said prolonged use of cannabis was demotivating, could cause psychotic conditions and was damaging to physical health.

"This has been exacerbated by the wider availability of stronger forms of the drug. Many heroin and cocaine users began their drug dependency with cannabis use in their teens," it said.

The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the Advisory Council had been looking at new research from Keele University about links between cannabis and mental illness.

He said the study found nothing to support a theory that rising cannabis use had led to more cases of schizophrenia.

If the government does reclassify, it would be rejecting the findings of the Advisory Council's panel of 23 drug experts, which has never happened before on a decision about drug classification.

Free up time

A spokesman for the prime minister said reports that the advisory body would recommend cannabis remain a class C drug were premature.

"The Advisory Council themselves are still some way away from reaching final conclusions," he said.

Mr Brown, he said, stood by his comments at his Downing Street press conference on Tuesday - when he said that the government needed to send out a signal that cannabis use was not just illegal but also unacceptable.

The council itself refused to confirm or deny reports.

Cannabis was downgraded from a class B drug to class C in January 2004.

The move was designed to free up police time and allow officers to concentrate on tackling harder drugs.

Adults found carrying cannabis are unlikely to be arrested, and young people are most likely to be arrested and reprimanded.

Possession of the class C drug does carry a maximum penalty of a two-year prison sentence, but this is rarely served. People found to be carrying a class B drug can be given up to a five-year sentence.

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