GORDON Prentice has welcomed a House of Lords report calling for the legalisation of cannabis-based medicines.

He said it was another step along the way to allowing the "soft drug" to be used to relieve chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis and severe arthritis.

The all-party Science and Technology Committee of the Lords is "pleased" that Home Office is "showing the first signs of adopting a genuinely pragmatic and expeditious approach to the use of cannabis-based medicines."

But it expresses concern at the slow progress of clinical trials of such drugs and is concerned at the inconsistency with which the law on the illegal use of cannabis is enforced on people taking it for pain relief and medical uses.

Pendle Labour MP Mr Prentice said: "I welcome the report. A trial is currently under way. I am sure as much as I can be that cannaboids will be legalised for medical use within two years."