The Government did not have much choice but to declare police should take a softer line in future on cannabis.

In doing so, it is not saying cannabis is good for you or that smoking it is wise. It is simply use of the drug is so widespread, stopping it is almost impossible.

But there are still dangers associated with cannabis as the terrible story of Aaron Goodman shows in The Argus today.

He is a drug addict from St Leonards who was jailed for life in March for beating his girlfriend's baby to death.

Now his mother has been jailed for smuggling cannabis to him in prison because he still needs drugs.

Some doctors are also firmly of the opinion that prolonged use of the drug can cause psychiatric problems.

Although the majority of users never try any other drug, for a minority as in Goodman's case, cannabis is a gateway to hard drugs.

There is a world of difference between rolling a joint at a party and injecting yourself with heroin to the point where it becomes life threatening.

That is why Home Secretary David Blunkett has bowed to the inevitable and adopted a common sense approach.

However, everyone who has the odd puff should always be aware that, while that may not do much harm, drug addicts can wreck their own lives and those of others.