A PRIEST who runs a drugs rehabilitation charity today revealed his concern that downgrading cannabis could create more addicts.

Father Jim McCartney, co-founder of the renowned Blackburn-based Those On The Margins of Society (THOMAS), said he was worried it may lead to a greater number of people experimenting and progressing to 'harder' drugs like heroin.

But the Roman Catholic priest of St Anne's Church, in France Street, adjoining the THOMAS centre, believes the move will have one good aspect - freeing up police officers' time.

Currently police arrest anyone they find possessing cannabis, a process that can take three hours.

But from Thursday, when the drug is downgraded from Class B to C, officers can avoid that course of action and instead confiscate the drug with an on-the-spot warning - taking roughly just 10 minutes.

The only reason arrests will be made is when cannabis is smoked in public, or when a person is in possession near a school, youth club or play area.

Police believe the move will give them more time to focus on Class A drug dealers.

In his work at THOMAS, Fr McCartney oversees a programme of rehabilitation for addicts, which aims to get them clean, off the streets and into work. He is now hoping to take the scheme to Burnley.

Over the past decade he has met countless addicts fighting to conquer their drugs habit. It is on these experiences he bases his doubts on the cannabis law change.

Fr McCartney said: "The majority of people who smoke cannabis will never become addicted to it.

"There is an argument that it is more dangerous than alcohol and smoking, and there is also the argument that the psychological effect is damaging.

"But what concerns me is our client group at THOMAS who through life can become addicted to hard drugs.

"I am concerned that downgrading cannabis could lead to more people progressing to hard drugs.

"I don't believe the clients who have been through our rehabilitation programme would agree with the change - they would see it as a pathway to other drugs.

"I come down on the side that cannabis should not be classified as a Class C drug. They should leave it as a Class B to protect the people who become addicts.

"I believe police time shouldn't be wasted on people smoking cannabis but I think the change sends a confusing message to people."

THOMAS won one of the Evening Telegraph's Pride of East Lancashire awards last year and is used as a blueprint by the Government for other drug rehabilitation groups.