£1m campaign to explain cannabis laws

A £1million advertising campaign was launched today to explain the new law on cannabis.

Radio and newspaper advertisements will warn that the drug remains illegal and that users can still face arrest.

The publicity drive follows concerns, first highlighted in the Evening Standard, that many people do not understand how the new law will work.

From next Thursday, cannabis will be downgraded from class B to class C and most people caught with the drug will be let off with a warning.

Michael Howard pledged today that a future Tory government would reverse the relaxation of the law.

Home Secretary David Blunkett admitted that he had "agonised" over the decision and that he was certain to "take a bit of stick over the next few weeks".

Radio adverts will be broadcast across England and are expected to be heard by four out of five teenagers in the key age range of 15 to 18.

The advertisements recite various slang terms for cannabis then say: "Call it what you like, just don't call it legal. Cannabis is still illegal, it's still harmful and you can still be arrested for possession."

Officials will distribute 2.5 million leaflets outlining the changes in the law. Information packs will be sent to schools, charities, doctors' surgeries and student unions.

Home Office Minister Caroline Flint said the month-long campaign was starting only a week before reclassification "to make sure it has the greatest impact".

She said: "The adverts have been fully researched and tested with young people to make sure the message is both effective and credible.

"We are being honest to young people about the harm cannabis can cause in comparison with drugs such as crack and heroin."

British Medical Association spokesman Dr Peter Maguire welcomed the campaign but warned that it would have to go on for more than the planned four weeks to be effective in highlighting the dangers of smoking cannabis.

He said: "The public must be made aware of the harmful effects that we know result from smoking this drug. It has to be sustained.

"We also want the Government to keep the reclassification of cannabis under review."

Bob Carstairs, assistant general secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association, said: "Pupils are misinterpreting that cannabis is now a safe drug, and that is not necessarily the case. It is certainly not the message that we would want to give our kids."

Unveiling the new Tory policy, Mr Howard accused the Government of creating "a massive muddle in the middle" with its decision to downgrade cannabis.

He said there were only two realistic approaches: to keep the law on cannabis as it is now, or legalise it outright.

His announcement was timed to capitalise on public concerns over the impact of the change in the law. But it threatened to become a hostage to fortune if the reclassification is seen, by the time of the next election, as having been a success.

And it is set to alienate those on the liberal wing of the Tory party who support the Government's decision.

In a newspaper interview, Mr Howard said: "We have come to the view that the Government's decision is completely misconceived.

"There are two perfectly arguable positions you can hold. One is to say that it should be legalised. There are arguments which I understand for that.

"There are arguments for keeping it as is now - everyone knows where they stand.

"It seems to me that there is absolutely no case for what is a massive muddle in the middle."