Cannabis must stay illegal, MPs say

Cannabis should have the same status as Valium but possession must remain a criminal offence, an influential committee of MPs has said.

An enquiry into Britain's drugs laws by the Home Affairs Select Committee will conclude that decriminalisation of the drug would send out the wrong message and lead to an increase in supply.

Full legalisation of cannabis – a step further – will also be explicitly rejected by the committee in its report, which will recommend reclassifying the drug from Class B to Class C.

However, it will endorse the use of cannabis-based medicines for patients with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and nerve path damage.

Plans for more liberal changes to Britain's drug laws are understood to have been blocked by some members of the committee. "Some members did support legalisation of cannabis and others were completely opposed to the idea," said a Westminster source.

The committee's report is also understood to be opposed to any softening of laws on heroin and ecstasy.

The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, is expected to announce to Parliament that he will downgrade cannabis to Class C once the committee's report is made public later this month. This is in response to pressure for reform of drug laws from drugs charities and politicians, as well as senior police officers who want to concentrate their resources on fighting hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine.