SWINDON drugs czar Jennie Harmston today condemned the Home Secretary's decision to relax laws governing cannabis use.

David Blunkett has called for cannabis to be downgraded to Class C status, meaning users caught with small amounts will not be arrested.

The news has prompted the resignation of national drugs czar Keith Helliwell. Today the borough Drugs and Alcohol Action Team, which Mrs Harmston heads, issued a statement on the decision.

She said: "We are concerned about the re-classification of cannabis to a Class C drug in Swindon. It must be emphasised to young people in Swindon that it is not legal.

"Cannabis when used with other substances can cause a psychotic response in some young people. All drugs are mind-altering substances and cannabis is no different."

Glenys Armstrong, from Swindon charity Druglink, said she supported the Home Secretary's decision to concentrate on tackling hard drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. But she reiterated that cann-abis is a dangerous substance.

Last year the charity was in contact with 4,963 people concerned about their drug-taking. Of these, some 1,200 mentioned cannabis.

Ms Armstrong said of the Home Secretary's statement: "It does give a bit of a mixed message especially to young people who seem quite confused. Although cannabis is being moved to class C it does remain illegal.

"No drug is completely harmless even something like paracetamol can be dangerous. Cannabis can have quite serious effects on people."

She added: "We support the Home Office's emphasis on increasing treatment and trying to clamp down on dealing."

The Home Secretary made his statement about downgrading cannabis on Tuesday. The move ranks the drug alongside steroids and anti-depressants.

Those caught with it under most circumstances will have the drug confiscated and be let off with a warning.

Mr Blunkett has rejected calls for Ecstasy to be downgraded from Class A status. He is also planning to increase the maximum penalty for those caught dealing cannabis from five years to 14.

Mr Blunkett said the new rules should become law by next July. But an experiment in London where police in Lambeth turned a blind eye to cannabis use could be extended across the country.

Wiltshire Police spokesman Graham Chivers said: "These are proposals we'll still target dealers rather than users."

He said the force backed a statement issued by the Association of Chief Police supporting Mr Blunkett's decision to re-classify cannabis.

It said the move will give more police flexibility in dealing with incidents on the street.