The British government considered -- but then rejected -- a proposal to return marijuana to a more restrictive category under the country's narcotics code.

The U.K. Home Office announced that marijuana would remain a Class C drug, keeping in place a two-year-old decision to downgrade the drug.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said he agreed with the assessment of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, tasked last March to investigate whether new evidence on the harm caused by marijuana warranted revisiting the classification issue. "I have decided to accept the Advisory Council’s recommendation, which is supported by the police and by most drugs and mental-health charities, to keep the current classification of cannabis," said Clarke. "I have considered very carefully the advice which I have received. I am influenced by evidence that cannabis use has fallen among 16- to 24-year-olds from 28 percent in 1998 to less than 24 percent last year."

"The preliminary assessment is that reclassification has not led to an increase in use," added Clarke. "I accept the view of the Advisory Council that further research on the mental-health implications is needed before any decision to reclassify is made."