2. The home secretary, David Blunkett, has decided to downgrade cannabis from class B to class C.

3. Former drugs tsar and part time drug adviser to the government, Keith Hellawell, has resigned in protest.

4. So what's all the fuss about? Cannabis was first cultivated in central Asia. The earliest records show that the Chinese were using the plant for its fibrous stalks (called hemp) as far back as 2800BC. Later it spread to the Mediterranean under the Romans and, much later, on to northern Europe and the Americas.

5. The leaves, especially those of the female plant, contain the active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol that give marijuana and hash (a concentrated resin) their special properties.

6. Its narcotic effects have made cannabis illegal in many parts of the world.

7. An exception is the Netherlands where the plant's use is decriminalised and, it is believed, many varieties that reach Britain are intensively farmed.

8. For the organic varieties you need to grow your own but - be warned - in a lot of countries this is illegal too.

9. Some groups campaign for legalisation in the UK. Former cannabis users are now to be found in many walks of life. For example, the top echelons of the Tory party.

10. Despite the recent debate, the art of cannabis cultivation is unlikely to be featured on Gardener's World any time soon. Possession of the drug still carries a maximum two-year penalty, while possession with intent to supply could land you with up to five years in the slammer.