Cannabis laws to be strengthened

Jacqui Smith defied the Government's own experts today by announcing that laws on cannabis will be toughened up.

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The Home Secretary said the drug must be upgraded from Class C to Class B to avoid "risking the future health of young people".

The move comes despite the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) concluding that the health dangers from cannabis did not justify its inclusion in the higher category.

A report from the group said scientific evidence pointed to a "probable, but weak, causal link between psychotic illness, including schizophrenia, and cannabis use".

However, in the population as a whole, the drug played only a "modest role" in the development of these conditions.

Ms Smith told the Commons that, despite the experts' conclusions, the Government was determined to "err on the side of caution".

"I have given the council's report careful consideration," she said. "Of the council's 21 recommendations I accept all bar those relating to classification.

"I have decided to reclassify cannabis to a Class B drug, subject to Parliamentary approval."

She added: "There is a compelling case for us to act now rather than risk the future health of young people.

"Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt about the harm that will be caused, we must err on the side of caution and protect the public.

"I make no apology for that - I am not prepared to 'wait and see'."