The evidence linking cannabis to mental illness appears to be growing stronger, and there are many who think the decision to declassify the drug was hasty and ill thought out.

Even now the arguments are raging about the potential hazards of using the drug. While there are plenty of people who say it has never done them any harm, there are many horror stories emerging about the effects it can have, particularly on still developing brains. With a growing body of research pointing to links between cannabis use and mental illness doctors are warning that liberal attitudes to the drug are putting young people at risk.

And against such a background it seems incomprehensible that anyone should choose to muddy the water by selling cannabis sweets. Although they contain no active ingredients and are not illegal, such sweets are undoubtedly sending out the wrong message to young people who are already having to pick their way through the whole confusing drugs debate.

Under current legislation trading standards officers are powerless to take the confectionery off the shelves, and are having to rely on shopkeepers themselves to do the right thing. We can only hope that retailers will put the welfare of children before the dubious profit generated by these gimmicky sweets. And perhaps we should all be calling for a tightening of the law.

TRANMERE Park is a unique development of thoughtful housing - residents enjoy well designed houses and large gardens. They've paid for it, and they want to keep it that way. In the face of increased planning applications, many for new homes in gardens, enough of them have got together with the aim of stopping the rot before it is too late.

A Neighbourhood Design Statement will be put together by the residents and will aim to be a blueprint of what the residents deem is acceptable - and what is not. Design statements are not legally binding, nor do planning authorities have to abide by them, but they do provide invaluable information to planners what residents would consider acceptable.