Blunkett defends radical reforms seeking to relax cannabis laws

NEW police guidelines which will see most cannabis smokers in Britain let off with a verbal warning were defended by Home Secretary David Blunkett yesterday.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued the rules because Mr Blunkett plans to downgrade cannabis from Class B to Class C on January 29.

It means cannabis will move into the "least harmful" category under the Misuse of Drugs Act alongside anabolic steroids and some prescription anti-depressants.