By Steve Bargeton, political editor

ANYONE CAUGHT in possession of cannabis in Scotland will still face prosecution when the drug is reclassified next week.

Ministers yesterday stressed that possession is still a criminal offence and that Scottish police will not turn a blind eye.

To coincide with its reclassification from a class B to class C drug on January 29 a £1 million public information campaign will be launched to reinforce the message that it remains a criminal offence.

“There is a perception that cannabis is safe and has been decriminalised for personal use. That perception is a myth,” said deputy justice minister Hugh Henry.

“In Scotland the police will operate in the same way they have been operating up till now.

“Cannabis is not safe—it brings risks to both physical and mental health. Recently there has been new research published which appears to reinforce the risks to mental health.”

The minister said that the maximum penalty for supplying will be increased to 14 years’ imprisonment.

“Reclassification recognises that, while harmful, some drugs are more harmful than others. Cannabis carries risks but it is not as dangerous as, say, heroin and cocaine.

“But dabbling in it could well leave you with a criminal record, as well as damaging your health.”

In Scotland police forces have no right to caution those caught in possession, and each case is referred to the procurator fiscal.

Procurators fiscal can issue warnings, fiscal fines, or dispose of cases in other ways which do not carry criminal records.

Elsewhere, Tory leader Michael Howard yesterday refused to say whether he had ever smoked cannabis after denouncing the Government’s decision to downgrade the drug as “absurd.”

Mr Howard, who has pledged that a future Conservative government would reverse the policy, was challenged by Home Secretary David Blunkett to reveal whether he had used cannabis in the past.

Mr Blunkett’s changes introduced a “muddle” which would send a signal to young people that cannabis was legal and safe, when it was not, said the Tory leader.

But Mr Blunkett dismissed the criticism. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said, “Two years ago I said we want a sensible mature debate, we are actually having one now, because at least people are debating the issue sensibly.

“Let’s ask him (Mr Howard), ‘Did you ever smoke it?’ ”

Asked whether he ever smoked cannabis, Mr Blunkett replied, “No, I never smoked cannabis. But if I had, I would be quite transparent about it because 40-odd per cent of under 30-year-olds have.

“I don’t want to actually end up chasing them rather than actually chasing the dealers and the people who kill young people with crack and heroin.”

Asked what his response would be if Mr Howard said he had smoked cannabis, Mr Blunkett said, “I would say ‘Fine, thanks for being honest, now what would you have done to you? What would your parents have said if we had picked you up for smoking it, criminalised you and had you banged up in jail?’ ”

Prime Minister Tony Blair’s official spokesman said the Government’s decision was taken as a result of advice from the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs to acknowledge that cannabis was harmful but less harmful than other class B drugs.

The spokesman added, “It’s important to recognise equally that we are not saying that by re-classifying cannabis that it is safe.

“It remains an illegal drug and is of course harmful. The police will ensure those who repeatedly flout the law are arrested.

“But what this is about is allowing police to concentrate their efforts on drugs that do most harm, namely the class A drugs.

Doctors have voiced concern over the reclassification, with the British Medical Association warning that chronic cannabis smoking can increase the likelihood of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema, while psychiatrists have linked the drug to cases of psychosis.