A former drugs tsar has called for cannabis to be legalised – so it can lure off booze.

Professor David Nutt claims alcohol is far more dangerous than dope and believes the move could be a life-saver.

3 Prof Nutt, who was dubbed the Nutty Professor and sacked as the government’s chief drug policy adviser, claims alcohol is more harmful than cannabis Credit: PA:Press Association

He spoke out after Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced a review of whether cannabis should become legal for medicinal purposes.

The prof urged him to go further and make the weed legal for recreational use.

But last night ministers ruled out any law change and told him: Don’t be a dope.

Prof Nutt was dubbed the “Nutty Professor” and sacked as the government’s chief drug policy adviser after claiming ecstasy was safer than booze and fags.

3 The harmful effects at present are driven by skunk, according to a leading drugs tsar Credit: Getty - Contributor

3 Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that legalising drugs would fly in the face of campaigns to cut alcohol and tobacco use Credit: Getty - Contributor

He also said the risk of taking E was no worse than riding a horse.

Now he says there would be “significantly less harm from alcohol” if cannabis was freely available.

He told Left Foot Forward website: “In US states, people have a choice, so alcohol deaths are going down…a lot of people would prefer to be stoned than drunk.

“The big harms at present are driven by skunk – a regulated market would reduce skunk.”

But two senior Cabinet ministers last night insisted legalising pot was off the agenda.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that legalising drugs would fly in the face of campaigns to cut alcohol and tobacco use.

He said: “Three vices don’t right a wrong.

“There is a lot of evidence of the harm from cannabis.

"It can trigger psychosis and other mental problems.

“You have to ask yourself would overall usage increase in a legalised environment and what would the health impact of that be.”

Sajid Javid says cannabis is set to become legal for medical purposes

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Home Secretary Sajid Javid added: “No, we’re not going to legalise drugs. No, absolutely not.

“And we are going to maintain a hard line on hard drugs, nothing’s changing there.

“Higher-earning people who take drugs must realise that what might look like to them in their mind set perfectly innocent at a dinner party, like taking some crack cocaine, means someone has been exploited.

“People have been hurt and possibly killed, there’s a lot of crime that’s followed that and the money they’ve paid for it will lead to more crime.

“They really I think need to do more to reflect on the damage they are doing not just to themselves by taking those drugs but the damage they are doing to society.”

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