CALLS to reclassify cannabis as a Class A drug have been “strongly” supported by Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson.

This reclassification would align the Class B drug in the same category as heroin and crack cocaine.

Wilkinson is backing the calls by Dorset PCC David Sidwick for the reclassification of the drug, with growing concerns of the “extensive impact” of cannabis on community safety in rural communities and its role in fuelling broader criminal activities.

Wilkinson said: “I fully support calls for a tougher stance on cannabis – including the reclassification of it to a Class A drug.

“In Wiltshire, we see first hand how cannabis cultivation and use are not isolated issues but are deeply intertwined with a spectrum of criminal activities.

“From anti-social behaviour and retail theft to more serious offences like modern slavery and human trafficking, cannabis often serves as a gateway drug and funding source for organised crime groups.”

In Wiltshire, police seized more than 100kg of cannabis made during a coordinated effort targeting organised crime groups involved in drug cultivation, Operation Scorpion.

The initiative, introduced by the five PCCs across the south west brings together the police forces from Wiltshire, Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, and Gloucestershire in a united, intelligence-sharing unit to dismantle county lines operations and cut off drugs supply at the source.

Wilkinson added: “The idea that cannabis is a harmless drug is a misconception. Its cultivation and distribution are often controlled by organised crime networks that exploit vulnerable individuals and perpetuate violence.

“County lines operations are the clearest example of how drug-related crime has extended its tentacles into our rural towns and villages.

“The notion that drug-related crime is only an urban issue is outdated and dangerously naive.

“Operation Scorpion has shown the power of collective regional enforcement in disrupting criminal activity. But enforcement alone is not enough — we also need national drug policy that recognises cannabis as the deeply harmful drug it is and supports prevention, education, and treatment alongside policing.

“Reclassifying cannabis would send a clear message about the seriousness of its impact on our communities.”

Both PCCs are calling for a comprehensive approach that combines enforcement with education and rehabilitation.

They emphasised the importance of community involvement and intelligence in tackling drug-related issues and called for national policies that reflect the realities faced by local forces.

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