A POLICEMAN who walks the beat in an area of Preston that has seen a string of drug-related crimes is warning people that using cannabis is still an offence.

Inspector David Aston, of Lea police station, said people should not believe that growing, supplying or using cannabis is not a crime despite the Government's decision to downgrade the drug's classification from B to C).

"This downgrade is not a case of help yourself and let's all have a great time," he said. "At the end of the day it is still illegal and people need to remember if they are found in possession of cannabis in a public place they will be arrested."

The reduction in the classification of the drug means the maximum penalty served for possession of cannabis will be reduced from five years to a maximum two year sentence.

But one Preston woman, who uses cannabis for medical reasons, believes people like her should not be tarred with the same brush as other drug users. Sybil, who did not want her surname revealed, was told by doctors she would never walk again after rheumatoid arthritis put her in a wheelchair.

These days muscular spasms, caused by the disease, cause her extreme pain although, she claims, after four years of taking medical 'pure' cannabis she is able to manage it better. Sybil, who also suffers from chronic fatigue, drug and food allergies, asthma and diabetes, defied the odds and, with help from the herbal Mediweed cannabis, she says, is now able to walk.

But she puts some of her success down to taking medical cannabis although her dosage has decreased over the years to a couple of times a month with a little added to chocolates, cakes, bread for her own use.

However, Sybil claims the downgrade in classification is not a good enough solution for those people who have a medical condition, particularly those with multiple sclerosis.

She said: "Eating Mediweed is the only method of pain relief for me because I'm allergic to the more traditional forms of pain management such as paracetamol, aspirin and codeine.

"It is ridiculous I could get arrested or even sent to prison for pain relief.

"The drop in classification makes absolutely no difference to my life. In the eyes of the law I am still classed as a criminal.

"I think that if doctors are willing to back up people like me who have a proven medical condition then the law should fall in line with this."