Ministers admit: we took cannabis

Last Modified: 19 Jul 2007
By: Channel 4 News

The home secretary and a string of other ministers admit to taking cannabis in their younger days.

Just a day after Gordon Brown announced he was considering turning it back into a class B drug, Jacqui Smith admitted she had smoked dope at college.

Chancellor Alistair Darling and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly were among other senior ministers to fess up.

The Conservative leader, David Cameron, has long refused to comment on widespread reports that he took drugs, including cocaine, in the past.

But is it really damaging to a political career?

Jacqui Smith's confession came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown indicated the drug could be reclassified as more dangerous.

Ms Smith, 45, told GMTV: "I think it was wrong that I smoked it when I did. I have not done for 25 years.

"I share other people's concerns about the effect that cannabis has on young people and mental health problems."

She added: "I am not proud about it, I did the wrong thing."

Cannabis was downgraded from class B in January 2004 by former home secretary David Blunkett, who placed it alongside certain prescription tranquillisers and body-building steroids.