A BOLTON MP says the Government's decision to reclassify cannabis is "pointless".

Brian Iddon accused Home Secretary Jacqui Smith of "flying in the face of expert advice" after she upgraded the drug's status to class B.

Ms Smith yesterday told MPs that because of the increased strength of some types of cannabis, she wanted to reverse Tony Blair's 2004 downgrading of the drug to class C.

She was acting on claims the drug was strongly linked to psychotic illness, including schizophrenia.

However, hours earlier the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs had released a report saying any such links were "weak" and recommended cannabis should remain in class C, based on its limited health risks.

Ms Smith's move is likely to be supported by senior police officers, including Bolton police chief Dave Lea, who has said there are "persuasive arguments" for reclassification.

But Bolton South-east MP Dr Iddon, pictured, disagreed and health experts say the move will not help people struggling with ill-health. He said: "I am disappointed because the Government has flown in the face of three recommendations now which have been consistent over several years.

"If I were the chairman of the ACMD, I would feel like resigning because the evidence was not strong enough to take it back from C to B.

"She (Ms Smith) has done it for political reasons to send a strong signal, but the actual use of cannabis was going down. I think what she has done is pointless."

Dr Iddon agreed that it could be a potentially harmful drug, particularly the stronger "skunk" variants, but added: "I think today's decision has undermined the value of the ABC classifications of drugs."

Following yesterday's announcement, he spoke to the Home Secretary to call for better drug education in schools and asked her to pledge more cash to investigate the links between cannabis use and mental illness.

Ms Smith had told MPs she had given the report "careful consideration", but was rejecting its central recommendation.

She said: "I have decided to reclassify cannabis to a Class B drug, subject to Parliamentary approval.

"There is a compelling case for us to act now rather than risk the future health of young people.

"Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt about the harm that will be caused, we must err on the side of caution and protect the public.

"I make no apology for that - I am not prepared to 'wait and see'."

She also unveiled a crackdown on cannabis "paraphernalia" such as pipes and even potentially posters that "glamorise" its use.

In November last year, Chief Supt Dave Lea said not enough was known about the effects of new, more powerful forms of "skunk" grown in farms under powerful lights, and that it was leading to an increase in mental illness among users.

Chief Supt Lea was speaking after the drugs conference of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) called on the Government to reclassify cannabis.

He said: "There are persuasive arguments for reclassification, as I think the evidence that led to the initial reclassification to class C has now been surpassed by new evidence."

But Sandy Saunders, Bolton's substance misuse strategy manager, added: "Reclassifying cannabis won't, on its own, provide help for those people in Bolton who might be having problems as a result of using it.

"Those people should seek help from their GP or the drugs service, especially if they are experiencing mental health problems, such as paranoia, depression or anxiety attacks."

One mother who supports reclassification is Christine Barrett, who lost her son Craig Fenemore to a heroin overdose last year.

Craig, who was 31 when he was found dead by his brother and sister in his flat in Morris Green, Bolton, had started smoking cannabis when he was about 16.

Mrs Barrett, of Dumcombe Road, Great Lever, said her son's cannabis use was the start of his problems.

She said: "Craig smoked cannabis at 16 and I was absolutely livid. By the time he was 18 or 19, he had begun taking heroin.

"It's heartbreaking to discover your child is taking drugs.

"You are on your own. The doctors says that they can't tell parents anything because at 16 they are classed as adults.

"I definitely support the reclassification of cannabis."