Back to Class B - the Government makes its Cannabis decision

The Government has chosen to overlook a key recommendation from an expert drugs panel and reclassify Cannabis to Class B.

In a Government announcement Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that despite the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommending Class C status, Cannabis will be reclassified.

This decision will have to be approved by Parliament in a vote, but it is expected to go ahead.

The ACMD recommended that Cannabis remain a Class C drug, and that there should be a full public health campaign to make people more aware of the mental health risks.

Rethink gave evidence to the ACMD in February, emphasising the need for health education targeted specifically at young people. We will continue to campaign for:

  •  A massive public health campaign as promised by the Government in 2006
  • Health warnings to appear on Cannabis related products such as King Size rolling papers

We will be engaging with Parliamentarians in the coming weeks to make sure the education argument is heard loud and clear.

Read the Home Secretary's statement on reclassification.pdf (453 kb) [pdf]

Read more about Why cannabis should stay at Class C