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PM 'stands by stance on cannabis'

Some types of cannabis are increasing in strength


Home Secretary
Downing St has signalled that Gordon Brown remains determined to tighten the law on cannabis - against the advice of an independent panel of experts.

BBC News has been told that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs believes that cannabis should remain in the lowest category, Class C.

But the prime minister's spokesman said such reports were premature.

He said the PM stood by earlier remarks about the need to signal that cannabis use was illegal and unacceptable.

Report later

The council - the official body which advises the government on drugs policy - was asked by the government to review cannabis's legal status amid concerns over stronger forms of it.

Its decision leaves the government in an awkward position, said BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw.

If the government went ahead and reclassified cannabis to class B, ministers would be rejecting the findings of the council's panel of 23 drug experts - which has never happened before on a decision about drug classification.

The council's chairman Professor Sir Michael Rawlins refused to confirm or deny a decision, and said a report would be sent to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith later this month.

CANNABIS

[I personally think alcohol may be worse for the youth of UK than cannabis....]