Ministers admit using cannabis

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A total of seven Cabinet ministers, including Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, confirmed they used the illegal drug as students. And two more ministers at the Home Office also said they tried it at university.

The admissions came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown's announcement on Wednesday of a review of the classification of cannabis, which may reverse the 2004 decision to downgrade it from a class B drug to the less serious class C.

Mr Brown's spokesman said the Prime Minister - who has denied ever using illicit substances - was "quite relaxed" about his Cabinet colleagues' admissions of past indiscretions.

Ms Smith, who will have to decide whether to reverse her predecessor David Blunkett's decision on declassifying cannabis, made her admission in an interview on GMTV.

Shortly afterwards policing, security and community safety Minister Tony McNulty told BBC News 24: "At university I encountered it, I smoked it once or twice, and I don't think many people who were at university at the time didn't at least encounter it."

And the Home Office later confirmed another minister Vernon Coaker, who has responsibility for drugs policy, had also taken cannabis in the past.

Mr Darling said he had tried the drug "occasionally in my youth". His deputy at the Treasury, Chief Secretary Andy Burnham said he had used it "once or twice at university and never since".

Spokespeople for Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and Business Secretary John Hutton also confirmed they were former cannabis users.

The Conservative Party said it had nothing new to say about whether any of the shadow cabinet had used illicit substances. Tory leader David Cameron has refused to confirm or deny whether he has taken drugs.