LEADING health figures in Bradford have spoken after an expert panel called for the legalisation of cannabis.

The panel, set up by the Liberal Democrats, said in a report cannabis should be sold over the counter in specialist, licensed shops to over-18s only.

Locally, the leader of the party on Bradford Council said the issue was something that needed serious consideration.

The national Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron showed his support for the recommendation, saying prohibition of cannabis had failed.

"It is a waste of police time to go after young people using cannabis and ludicrous to saddle them with criminal convictions," he added.

"A legal market would allow us to have more control over what is sold, and raise a considerable amount in taxation."

The panel includes chief constable for Durham Mike Barton, Professor David Nutt, the former chairman of the government's advisory council on the misuse of drugs, and Tom Lloyd, the former Cambridgeshire chief constable , who is chairman of the national cannabis coalition.

They suggested regulated cannabis sales could raise an estimated £500 million to £1 billion in taxation.

It was also said that small "cannabis social clubs" should be set up, which would be modelled on a network of 400 clubs in Spain, and people should be allowed to grow up to four plants for personal use.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council Jeanette Sunderland said: "It's something that we need to look seriously at, we are criminalising thousands of young people while spending millions of pounds policing something that we cannot control.

"It might be better to treat it like alcohol and use the tax to fight the more serious drugs. I am glad that someone is taking this issue seriously, but there is a long away to go."

The panel have argued that legalising cannabis could cut down on the market for legal highs and stronger strains of cannabis, which have been linked to psychosis.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood, chairman of the Council's Health Scrutiny Committee, said: "The Home Office has said it has no plans to change the law on cannabis and Bradford Council therefore has no plans to change its policies."

West Yorkshire Police also said its stance on cannabis would remain the same.

Bryan Dent, West Yorkshire Police's drugs coordinator, said: "Cannabis is a class B drug, and West Yorkshire Police will continue to enforce current legislation appropriately under the misuse of drugs act."

At the moment, possession of cannabis can result in up to five years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both, and police can issue £90 on-the-spot fines if you are stopped with cannabis on your person.

Producing and supplying cannabis can also result in an unlimited fine, and carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.

The panel said in its report legalising and regulating the cannabis market would not only raise more money in taxes, save the police money and time and reduce the number of people receiving criminal records, but would also make buying cannabis a lot safer as people would know the strength of the product they were buying and it would be coming from a more trustworthy supplier.