[420 Girl]

Cannabis should remain a Class C drug, according to the Government's official advisers on drugs policy – despite plans by Gordon Brown to restore it to Class B status. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is due to make its recommendation later this month, following a review of the decision to downgrade the drug from Class B to Class C under former Home Secretary David Blunkett.

But today it was reported the advisory council, which brings together a panel of 23 drug experts, had decided at a private meeting to come down against a further reclassification. The move could put the ACMD on a collision course with the Prime Minister, who this week backed returning cannabis to the list of Class B drugs and spoke of his determination to send a signal to young people that its use was "unacceptable".

The Home Office says there is real public concern about the potential mental health effects of cannabis use and, in particular, the use and availability of stronger kinds of cannabis such as "skunk". Cannabis has been a Class C drug since January 2004.

In July 2007, the Prime Minister announced that, as part of a consultation reviewing its drug strategy, the Government would consider whether cannabis should be reclassified as a class B drug. Possessing a class B drug carries a five-year jail term and an unlimited fine. Possession of class C drugs rarely leads to charges being brought.

At his monthly Downing Street news conference earlier this week, Mr Brown said: "I believe that if we are sending out a signal, particularly to teenagers – particularly those at the most vulnerable age, young teenagers – that we in any way find cannabis acceptable . . . that is not the right thing to do. "Given the changing nature of the stock of cannabis that is coming into the country and greater damage that that appears to be doing to people who use it, there is a stronger case for sending out a signal that cannabis is not only illegal but it is unacceptable."

Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of the ACMD, said the advisory council's report would be sent to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith this month but refused to comment on its recommendation.

The Home Secretary declined to comment on the advisory council's stance. She said: "I haven't seen the report. I don't know what it says."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The ACMD is due to give its recommendation to the Home Office this later this month and the Home Office decision on cannabis classification will follow shortly after. "Arrangements for the publication of the ACMD report and the Home Office's decision are yet to be decided."

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