CONTROVERSIAL new findings on growing cannabis were published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The York-based independent charity funds a range of social research and development projects. Its new report suggests bringing the penalties for growing cannabis into line with those for possessing it.

When cannabis is downgraded to a Class C drug later this year, people caught with plants could still face the same consequences as traffickers of class B drugs.

Cannabis use is widespread in the UK. At least three million people used the drug in 2001, and the report estimates that as much as half of the cannabis used in the UK may now be grown here.

Under the new regulations on cannabis possession, being found with cannabis for personal use will remain illegal. Police forces will be given guidelines meaning that in practice, offenders will normally only have their drugs confiscated and be given a warning.

However, there has been no similar change in the rules on cultivating cannabis plants for personal use. Often home growers are charged with "production", a more serious "trafficking" offence. Under the new proposals, these offences will still carry heavy penalties, the maximum being 14 years in prison.

The report argues that relaxing the law on small-scale growing will help draw users away from criminal dealers who could introduce them to harder drugs.

It suggests that guidelines for police based on the size of the find could distinguish between dealers growing for profit, and people growing for themselves or friends.

Alternatively, new offences of "social cultivation" and "social supply", carrying lesser penalties, could be created.

York cannabis campaigner Carl Wagner, 42, agreed with the principles behind the report, but felt that it did not go far enough, and that the only way to cut out dangerous dealers was to "bring cannabis production totally within the law".

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate declined to comment on the report, on the grounds that change in legislation was a matter for the Government.

A spokesman for the Home Office said in responding to the findings that although penalties for possession had been reduced, it remained "unpersuaded" that there should be any further change in the law on cultivation.

Updated: 08:51 Monday, April 14, 2003