Cannabis now Class B but spot fines shelved

Cannabis laws were in turmoil today as the drug was upgraded to a Class B substance but new tougher fines were not put in place.

Police will be unable to hand out the £80 fines which are part of a new "three strikes" regime supposed to be part of the changes to laws.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith decided to upgrade cannabis from Class C to Class B last year because of fears over the impact of stronger strains of "skunk" on the mental health of young people.

It reversed a decision by her predecessor David Blunkett in 2004 to downgrade the drug.

Under the new regime, police should issue a warning for a first offence and give second-time offenders an £80 fine and a penalty notice.

Third "strike" offenders are to face arrest, an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to five years.

But the Parliamentary order putting the new regime in place has been shelved because it was part of a package of 21 other on-the-spot fines which included £80 penalties for bogus cab drivers.

It is due for further consultation after magistrates expressed concerns about taking offences away from the courts system.

It also emerged that not all police forces will record cannabis warnings, meaning repeat offenders could escape fines or prosecution. A system for recording all cautions is not due to be introduced until next year.