NEWS cannabis laws are to be relaxed has been welcomed by a stricken Blakedown man.

Chris Hyde, who suffers from the rare rheumatoid disease ankylosing spondylitis and has been using cannabis to ease the symptoms for seven years, will continue to campaign for complete legalisation.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said on Tuesday penalties for possessing the drug would become much lower, while it would also be legal to use it for medical purposes when clinical trials have been completed.

Mr Hyde, of Sculthorpe Road, collected 400 signatures on a petition he planned to take to Prime Minister Tony Blair promoting the benefits of cannabis as opposed to "conventional medicine" which has some unpleasant side effects.

The 36-year-old yesterday welcomed the concession but said a complete legalisation would put street dealers out of business and create licensed premises which would offer a safe environment, while creating jobs and bringing in millions for the Government.

He is also backing a Bill proposed for the complete legalisation of the drug by Cardiff Central MP Jon Owen Jones, which will receive its second reading in the House of Commons tomorrow.

Mr Hyde was present at the opening of a Dutch-style "coffee shop" selling the drug in Stockport when it was raided by police - and insists an "open debate" on the issue is overdue.

He said: "Only a small minority of cannabis users get hooked on harder drugs - when that happens it's down to the individual," he said.

Having called on Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor to back his campaign, he applied to take part in clinical trials of cannabis.

Dr Taylor told the Shuttle/Times and News he was in favour of cannabis being available for medical use subject to the approval of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Mr Hyde added: "Without cannabis I can't move - with it I'm able to get around. It will be great if I can get it for medical use but in the meantime I will still be technically breaking the law. I don't want to go on the streets to fetch my medicine."