Mark Littlewood, director of campaigns at Liberty:

"It's a small but welcome step in the right direction. The government should legalise personal use of cannabis and allow it to be sold under licence. "It's also time for an urgent review of our drugs laws:they're outdated and need a thorough overhaul".

Earlier this year, Liberty supported Jerry Ham's challenge to the criminal law on cannabis possession, in which we argued that criminal punishment for possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use was wholly disproportionate. At Southwark Crown Court, Mr Ham was convicted of possession on a majority jury verdict; he is currently appealing his conviction.

Liberty also helped draft Jon Owen Jones MP's private member's bill calling for the legalisation of cannabis - due to be debated in Parliament this Friday afternoon (26th October).