Cannabis users urge the reclassification of drug

CANNABIS users in Ireland yesterday called on the Government to follow the lead of the British Government and downgrade the criminal status of the drug.

Cannabis is to be reclassified in Britain and Northern Ireland today, putting it on the same level as steroids and tranquillisers.

In practice, this means users will be able to smoke it in their own homes without fear of arrest. If they smoke in public, police policy is to caution rather than arrest, unless people are caught smoking repeatedly or are smoking outside a school or playground.Young people under the age of 18 smoking are still liable to be arrested.