THE prospect of cannabis being dropped down to a class C drug has immediatley led to suggestions that it will be effectively legalised.

That is not the cases says home secretary David Blunkett.

Dealing and supplying will still remain an arrestable offence, but possession and use in the medical profession won't be.

Among the first people to welcome the move was Pendle MP Gordon Prentice.

He tackled health minister Gisela Stuart about the issue back in April.

"I want to see cannabis put back in the medicine chest. I want doctors to be able to prescribe it as they were before 1971.

"It is absurd that a doctor cannot give a patient cannabis but can give them heroin, cocaine and morphine."

It is believed to help cure chronic pain and help sufferers of multiple scorosis and there is no evidence, even in Holland where it is legal, that cannabis use leads to use of harded drugs.

Mike Goodman, director of the national drugs and alcohol advice charity Release, said: "The announcement is hugely significant.

"The government has recognised and acknowledged that cannabis is different to the other drugs it is classed with."

Currently, cannabis sits in Class B - alongside amphetamines.

Heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD sit in Class A, while anabolic steroids and benzodizepines sit in Class C.

Mr Blunkett said: "I think that it is very important that people don't misunderstand.

"There is no intention by me, or by other ministers or the prime minister, that we legalise or decriminalise.

"To have credible policy in treatment and harm minimisation and above all consistency in law enforcement and policing, we believe it is right to look

at the re-categorisation of cannabis."

He also believes it will free up police resources to tackle the drugs which can kill - the class A ones.

Metroplitian Police commissioner Sir John Steven said: "The measures reflect the reality that law enforcers must target the scourge of hard drugs."

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