Judge attacks Government's 'foolish' decision to downgrade cannabis

Judge Brian Lewis said Labour's "softly-softly" approach had fostered a misunderstanding that the drug was relatively harmless.

In fact, cannabis was a dangerous substance which did long term harm, he said.

The judge's comments will further embarrass Gordon Brown who, in the face of mounting public concern, announced a review of the classification of cannabis within weeks of becoming Prime Minister.

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An alliance of doctors, police, magistrates and families whose lives have been ruined by the drug have already demanded a reversal of Labour's decision to downgrade cannabis, taken in January 2004.

They say the reclassification sent out mixed messages to young people and has lead to a 60 per cent rise in drugs-related offences and an explosion in illegal cannabis farms.

Experts also claim there is mounting evidenced to link the drug to mental illness. A staggering 80 per cent of patients newly-diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychiatric illnesses admit to being heavy users of cannabis.

Judge Lewis spoke out as he sentenced a drug dealer and his accomplice at Liverpool Crown Court today.

He told the pair: "Over the years there has sprung up a misunderstanding in some circles that cannabis is relatively harmless.

"That misunderstanding was fostered in some respects by a foolish decision to re-classify cannabis from Class B to Class C.

"There is such an increasing body of evidence of the long term harm that cannabis does to those to use it regularly that as I speak there is active consideration to re-classifying it back to Class B.

"Those who trade in cannabis, who sell it or play a part in selling it to others must understand that the courts will not simply overlook cannabis or brush it under the carpet as if it is harmless and trivial. That impression needs to be dispelled forcefully.

"It must be understood the harm this stuff does because it is being proved to be dangerous indeed."

David Kerr, prosecuting, told the court that officers arrested drug dealer Michael Pollock, 20, and his friend, Daniel Middleton, 19, after noticing a strong smell of cannabis coming from their car which was parked in Southport, Merseyside, in May last year.

They searched Pollock and found a quantity of cannabis resin in his pocket. They also discovered text messages on his mobile phone which indicated he had supplied others with the drug.

Sentencing the pair Judge Lewis told them that they had narrowly avoided jail.

He ordered Pollock, of Southport, to carry out 150 hours unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and two offences of supplying the drug.

Middleton, also of Southport, was handed 120 hours community service after admitting one charge of being concerned in supplying cannabis.

Pollock was also made the subject of a three month curfew and told he must wear an electronic tag between the hours of 7pm and 7 am.

A review on the laws relating to cannabis is currently being carried out by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. They are due to report their findings to ministers in April, although the final decision on whether to upgrade the drug to Class B lies with the Home Secretary.