The judge said cannabis took a 'terrible toll'

Sitting at Mold Crown Court, judge Michael Farmer QC said he had dealt with many cases where users had ended up as patients in mental hospitals.

He was passing sentence on pub DJ Paul Davies, 42, from Buckley, Flintshire who admitted supplying drugs.

The judge's comments came after the prime minister announced he was to consult on reclassifying cannabis.

He made a passing reference to Gordon Brown's planned launch of the consultation next week.

The drug was downgraded to Class C in 2004.

"Dangerous"

Speaking on Wednesday, Judge Farmer said people were now beginning to appreciate cannabis was "a far more dangerous drug than it was suspected to be."

Jailing Davies, the judge added: "If you sat as often as I do and have contact with those who are in mental hospitals then you appreciate the terrible toll that cannabis takes upon people who end up as restricted patients in mental hospitals."

Davies admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis after police discovered him in possession of cannabis with a street value of �5,120.

They also discovered 162 milligrammes of cocaine, together with packaging material, scales, and dealer's lists.

Davies received three-and-a-half years for the cocaine offence and a concurrent two year sentence for the cannabis.