[420 Girl]

The former Home Secretary David Blunkett has attacked the Government for upgrading cannabis from a class C to a class B drug.

The disgraced former minister said the decision to upgrade was based on public opinion rather than hard fact.

Many campaigners however have argued that most of the cannabis seized by police is of the 'skunk' variety, an extremely strong version of the drug that has been linked to psychological problems with chronic use.

Mr Blunkett, whose 2004 switch of the drug from class B to C is being reversed by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, said he believed the change had been very effective.

The switch back, which takes effect in January, was ordered by Ms Smith in defiance of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs - the Government's independent advisers.

She said there was a 'compelling case' because 80 per cent of the cannabis seized on the streets was the 'skunk' variety - which nearly three times stronger than the cannabis that being sold in 1995.

Mr Blunkett told the public administration select committee today: 'The original decision was taken on the advice of the Advisory Committee and the best advice we could receive externally, including what was then the Police Foundation.

Mr Blunkett, whose 2004 switch of the drug from class B to C is being reversed by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, said he believed the change had been very effective.

The switch back, which takes effect in January, was ordered by Ms Smith in defiance of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs - the Government's independent advisers.

She said there was a 'compelling case' because 80 per cent of the cannabis seized on the streets was the 'skunk' variety - which nearly three times stronger than the cannabis that being sold in 1995.

Mr Blunkett told the public administration select committee today: 'The original decision was taken on the advice of the Advisory Committee and the best advice we could receive externally, including what was then the Police Foundation.

'It did seem to us that it was the right thing to do in terms of placing the emphasis on education and the results have been substantial in terms of the drop in usage, particularly among young people and that is very encouraging.

Mr Blunkett was one of a group of former ministers - including Tory ex-chancellor Kenneth Clarke - giving evidence to the committee as part of its inquiry into 'good government'.

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