KeithW - I assume you talking about alcohol...... I think you will find alcohol is more of a burden on our services than cannabis.

Jason, Bournemouth, UK

And the world just keeps on turning. Legalise and be done with this futility. The government isn't fit for purpose.

Nik Morris, Brynmawr, Wales

It's not cannabis that future generations need to be protected from, it's the arrogant stupidity of the people presently governing this country, persisting as they do with complete disregard for the views of the majority, as if it is they alone who are capable of informed judgements.

Phil, Maidstone, England

waste of time debating drug laws that have become irrelevant to the norms in our society. Nothing less then a complete rethink based on maximizing harm reduction will have any impact.

rob, london, uk

Ridiculous politicians divorced from reality, as usual. The government pretends to care about we the people, by preventing us from possessing a largely benign herb. However, the government takes a bribe of £1 Million to exempt Formula 1 Racing from a tobacco advertising ban. Equality please.

Ed, London, UK

Another pointless law change from New Labour. The Banks and City traders have ruined more lives than Cannabis ever will.

Jutt, London, UK

Cannabis prohibition never has and never will work. Hopefully this penalty will make cannabis users more careful about being caught.

Well, I'm off to hit the ol' bottle of whisky

John Walters, D.C, USA

Its amazing that they can ban cigarette smoking in one swoop. But somehting that increases crime, is a burden on health service funds and causes death and injury with paranoid behaviour, results in legislation like this watered down piece of garbage, that benefits nobody. PATHETIC. totally.

KeithW, Wirral, UK

In a recent poll carried out on "Policing Minister" Vernon Coakers personal website, a resounding 80% of respondents disagreed with reclassification. The public has spoken out and on many platforms yet the Home office refuses to take note.

Democracy? I think not!
No confidence!

Ian MAlley, Cardiff, South Wales

With all the members of the Cabinet who have admitted to smoking pot , it proves their point that cannabis use ruins lives, after all, they ended up in politics

what do the experts know after all ?

Politicians know what real people want

yeah right !

Keith, Hull,

why all this noise about cannabis when the country is awash with much harder drugs like cocaine and heroin ? I hardly ever hear these being mentioned it's almost like the government are focusing on a soft easy target to deflect attention away from the real epidemic that is gripping this nation .

mark, Bury St Edmunds, UK

Populist posturing is what the Home Secretary, Prime Minister & Mr Hollis do best on this. If they were serious about tackling the real damage done by substance abuse, they would get serious about enforcing tobacco & alcohol controls. Their continued failure to prioritise these speaks volumes.

C Webb, Warwick, UK

I dont really think any Cannabis users cared when it was downgraded, nor will they care when it is upgraded.

Cannabis use saturates society, old and young, rich and poor.

Danny, Ennis, Ireland