GOVERNMENT drugs adviser Keith Hellawell today announced his resignation in protest at the proposal to reclassify cannabis.

Mr Hellawell, the former Drug Tsar who is now a part-time adviser to the Government, also attacked Government "spin" for relaunching its 10-year drugs strategy.

The former chief constable of Cleveland said he had written to Home Secretary David Blunkett to inform him of his resignation but had so far had no response.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's moving further towards decriminalisation than any other country in the world.

"I have resigned over this issue and over the issue of spin."