Tougher cannabis stance welcomed by nurses

Mental health nurses have welcomed the reclassification of cannabis as a class 'B' drug.

Yesterday home secretary Jacqui Smith announced the drug was to be reclassified after a previous decision to downgrade it to a class 'C' drug.

It reversed a decision made by the government in January 2004 to downgrade cannabis to a class 'C' drug.

The government said the decision was necessary because of the increasing strength of cannabis available on the illegal drug market.

Mental Health Nursing Association chairperson, Andy Lauder, said: 'It has been proved time and time again by well-respected medical studies that there are strong links between significant cannabis use and those suffering from mental health problems, or have a disposition to mental illness.'