BBC News: "Home Secretary David Blunkett has defended the downgrading of cannabis - and challenged Tory leader Michael Howard to say whether he had ever smoked the drug.
He was commenting after Mr Howard pledged that a future Conservative government would reverse the policy, which will see cannabis reclassified from Class B to Class C, making possession a less serious offence.
Mr Blunkett said: 'Two years ago I said we want a sensible mature debate, we are actually having one now, because at least people are debating the issue sensibly. Let's ask Mr Howard 'Did you ever smoke it?''
Asked if he had smoked the drug, Mr Blunkett replied: 'No, I never smoked cannabis. But if I had, I would be quite transparent about it because 40-odd per cent of under 30-year-olds have.'"