No 10 fears cannabis link to hard drugs, claims tabloid story

The News of the World newspaper claims it has seen a Downing Street study which suggests cannabis leads to hard drugs.

The report, reportedly written by the No 10 strategy unit, warned: "The vast majority of local drug dealers will use cannabis as an easy way of making money and increasing their client base. They will seek to secure more hard drugs clients from among that base." It said both hard drug and cannabis use was rising, and called for more research.

Cannabis was downgraded from a Class B to a Class C drug in 2004. The Home Office said yesterday: "Cannabis is illegal and will remain so It is harmful and its use can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological harms and hazards. The penalties for the possession, cultivation, production and dealing of cannabis are tough."It added that the classification would be kept "under close review".

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/07/ndope07.xml
Posted: 7th August 2006