Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies welcomes cannabis decision

Date published: 23 January 2006

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies has welcomed the Home Secretary's decision not to reclassify cannabis.

Charles Clarke has announced that cannabis is to remain a Class C drug but said he will launch a major public information campaign to stress that cannabis was "anything but harmless".

Davies, who has a criminal conviction for possession of cannabis after leading a political protest against existing drugs policy in 2002, has welcomed the decision.

He said: "I welcome this decision.  Making criminals of people who are causing no harm to anyone other than themselves makes no sense at all.  It is a waste of police time and public resources.

"All drugs carry dangers.  Very heavy use of cannabis can affect the mental health of those genetically disposed to the illness if taken in excessive quantities from a young age, but very heavy use of whisky will kill you.

"Cannabis users should be given clear information about the strength of the particular substance they are using and that means taking it out of the hands of criminals and into public licensing for its sale and distribution.

"Government money should be spent in promoting health education about the risks of using drugs in the same way as we explain the risks of using legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco which kill tens of thousands of people each year.

"Ultimately it is a matter of individual choice and the role of the state should be to ensure that adults can make informed decisions for themselves."

Mr Davies has campaigned for the separation of hard and soft drugs for many years but has never taken any illegal drug.