---<br /> Former Home Secretary David Blunkett is on a collision course with Charles<br /> Clarke over the decriminalistion of cannabis.<br /> Mr Blunkett today told the YEP that he was right to downgrade cannabis =AD<br /> despite the fact that the Government looks poised to perform a U-turn.<br /> In 2002 Mr Blunkett, now Work and Pensions Secretary changed the<br /> classification from B to C =AD effectively decriminalising it.<br /> But new Home Secretary Clarke looks set to restore the B grade after<br /> concerns about the effects of a strong form of cannabis known as skunk.<br /> A report in the Netherlands linked it with psychosis and the advisory<br /> council on the misuse of drugs is due to report back to him late this year.<br /> A Home Office spokeswoman said that the report was not due for some months<br /> and would not speculate.<br /> However Tony Blair has already indicated that reclassification is on the<br /> cards if experts recommend it.<br /> But when asked whether he was wrong to downgrade the drug Mr Blunkett told<br /> the YEP: "No, I don't believe I was.<br /> "I took the advice of the advisory council on misuse of drugs and their<br /> recommendation was very clear, but since reclassification there has been an<br /> issue about skunk .<br /> "The advisory council was asked to examine whether that made a difference<br /> to their original recommendation and as far I know the Home Secretary is<br /> still waiting for them to come back to him.<br /> "We took their advice on scientific grounds, saying that a differentiation<br /> was made between different types of drugs such as crack and heroin which<br /> can kill and less dangerous ones.<br /> "What we were able to do was free up the police to be able to concentrate<br /> resources on those killer drugs.<br /> "Whatever the solution, I know the Home Secretary will want to bear in mind<br /> that the police are dealing with this on a day to day basis, " he said<br /> adding that if the drug is reclassified " the public will have to know that<br /> will be at a price".<br /> " I am sure (the Home Secretary] will take into account the advice of the<br /> advisory council."<br /> But Mr Blunkett was today criticised by rank and file police in West=<br /> Yorkshire.<br /> Tom McGhie, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: "I<br /> certainly think it would be a correct move to reclassify cannabis as a<br /> Class B drug. I, like many other police officers, never met anyone who had<br /> moved on to using heroin or cocaine who had not started out experimenting<br /> with cannabis.<br /> "When cannabis was classified down to Class C the wrong message went<br /> around. Dangers of drugs needs reinforcing."<br /> anne.alexander@ypn.co.uk<br />Aurora Indica |  B52 |  Big Bud |  California Orange Bud |  Citral |  Four Way |  Haze |  Hindu Kush |  Indoor Mix |  Jock Horror |  K2 |  Maroc x Afghan |  Northern Light x Big Bud |  Northern Light x Haze |  Northern Light x Shiva |  Shiva |  Skunk #1 |  Skunk Red Hair |  Skunk Special |  Papaya |  White Rhino |  Haze 19 x Skunk |  Afghan |  Master Kush |  Northern Light |  Super Skunk |  Top 44 |  Durban Poison |  Early Bud |  Early Girl |  Early Misty |  Early Special |  Hawaii x Maui Waui |  Hawaii x Skunk #1 |  Hollands Hope |  KC 33 x Master Kush |  Mixed Sativa |  New Purple Power |  Swazi |  Swiss Miss |  Northern Bright |  Snow White (fem.) |  Supergirl |  Venus |  Wonder Woman |  Kaya |  PPP (fem.) |  Medusa |  Blue Mystic |  Chrystal |  Ice |  Misty |  PPP |  White Widow |  Nirvana Special |  White Rhino |  Snow White |  AK-48 |  Bubblelicious |  Silver Pearl |  Haze |  Jock Horror |  Northern Light x Haze |  White Rhino |  Haze 19 x Skunk |