This has nothing to do with personnal or public safety and everything to do with money. If cannabis was legal would as many people smoke tobbaco, would as many people drink as much as they do? . Would the pharmaceutical companies make as much cash if someone picks cannabis over paracetamol?.

Jim, Ripon, UK

cheap political point scoring from a prime minister on the run. do they really think this is going to put people off? if people young or old are going to smoke it they will

alan, wrexham,

Far more children smoke cigarettes than Cannabis ... how about banning those first ? If its a health issue ...

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children!!

Jim, exeter,

If this is allowed to happen it will be the final nail in coffin as far as Central Government meddling in affairs that they have little or no understanding about. I am sorely disappointed to see so many highly acclaimed and professional people advocating to allow politicians to overrule the ACMD.

Rick Rutkowski, London, England

It would appear that Scientologists are going to get their way, against the advise of drugs experts. Google "NDPA+scientology"

Those who have damaged their careers in prohibition-related blunders can feel satisfied that the people whom they blame will be punished again. http://tinyurl.com/5z3psy

John Watson, London, UK

Increasing penalties for millions of young people is not in the interest of 'child welfare'. Punitive Enforcement is expensive, demonstrably ineffective and actively harmful especially to the most vulnerable. Treatment, prevention and education is the way forward, the B/C debate just a distraction

Steve Rolles, London,

If Brown does this he will trash any pretence there may be that our drugs policy is in anyway evidence based.

Of course, the one group of people who couldn't care less which class cannabis is in are the users.

Reefer madness indeed.

Derek Williams, Norwich, UK

How about some evidence of the links between cannabis and mental illness. If there is evidence then we should expect to see soaring numbers of people suffering from mental illness, but the figures stay consistent over the past few decades.

Perhaps the cannabis users are self medicating?

Chris, Crawley, UK