PM hints at U-turn over cannabis de-classification
4 May 2005 scotsman.com

THE DANGERS of cannabis were highlighted by Tony Blair yesterday, raising the possibility that Labour could perform a U-turn on its decision to downgrade the drug's classification.

Mr Blair pointed to medical evidence that the drug was not "as harmless as people make out".

David Blunkett, the former home secretary, downgraded cannabis from a class B to a class C drug at the start of last year, but his successor, Charles Clarke, has since commissioned an investigation into long-term mental health implications of the drug.

The Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs will not report until after the election.

Yesterday, Mr Blair said he would "look again" at the classification of cannabis.

"I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and of course it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn't quite as harmless as people make out."

"So I take a very strong line on it, and a particularly strong line if there is any question of people dealing anywhere near kids and schools."

He also denounced the Lib Dems' drugs policy as "crackers".

* Related story: Blair hints at error over cannabis downgrade