Government should not ignore drugs council advice

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

Responding to Jacqui Smith's announcement that she will ignore the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and upgrade cannabis to a class B drug, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The crackdown on skunk farms makes sense, but it is crazy to ignore the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs by raising the maximum prison sentence for cannabis possession to five years.

"Cannabis use is falling, as is the incidence of psychosis. We need public education not public flagellation."