New Labour misled public over cannabis

MINISTERS misled the public over the dangers of smoking cannabis, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has admitted.

And it was the downgrading of the drug to Class C status less than a year ago that was responsible, he said.

In an interview last night, the Home Secretary laid the blame squarely with predecessor David Blunkett for his softly-softly approach.

Mr Clarke said that he was now “very worried” about evidence linking marijuana to mental illness.

He said that downgrading it from a class B to a class C drug, like steroids and anti-depressants, had caused “confusion”.

People were also startlingly unaware of the health risks, he added. The damning remarks pave the way for a dramatic U-turn in the coming weeks — first forecast by The Sun.

Asked if Mr Blunkett’s decision to reclassify the drug was responsible for the confusion Mr Clarke replied: “Yes.”

He went on: “People do not understand the impact of the consumption of cannabis well enough and what the legal consequences are.

“The thing that worries me most (about downgrading) is confusion among the punters about what the legal status of cannabis is.

“I am very struck by the advocacy of a number of people who have been proposers of the reclassification of cannabis that they are wrong.

“I am also very worried about the most recent medical evidence on mental health. This is a very serious issue.”

Mr Blunkett relaxed the law to free up police to tackle more serious crime.

But the move sparked an explosion in pot-smoking among teenagers who wrongly think it has been decriminalised.

Seizures soared by a third and cops have spent £1million on posters warning it is still illegal.

Experts say youngsters who regularly smoke dope are four-and-a-half times more likely to suffer psychosis or schizophrenia in their 20s.

Mr Clarke, who was fiercely opposed to downgrading when it was railroaded through by Mr Blunkett, launched an inquiry.

It will soon formally report back — but the Home Secretary has already read its conclusions.

He said: “Let me reveal one recommendation of the advisory committee which they make very very strongly.

“It is a renewed commitment to public education about the potential effects of the consumption of cannabis and the legal status of cannabis. That is well made and I will accept it.”

(From Michael Lea at The Sun)