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If there is one thing Tony Blair needs like a hole in the head it is a raging debate over drugs laws in the run up to the next election.
But that is exactly what he would get if he accepted the conclusions in the latest report on Britain's anti-drugs legislation.
And, despite suggestions that his much-loved middle Englanders are now open to the idea of relaxing laws covering cannabis, he is not about to risk it.
He knows that any move to liberalise existing laws, which are some of the toughest in Europe, would see a massive campaign of opposition.
Pressure groups would accuse the government of going soft on drugs and endangering the safety of the nation's youngsters.
 Tony Blair: will avoid debate on drugs
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The voices suggesting that liberalisation of the laws would be sensible and might actually lessen the problems associated with drugs would almost certainly be drowned out by the furore.
Cabinet rift
So, despite the widespread welcome the Drugs and Law report has received, there is virtually no chance of its recommendations being implemented.
However, that will not stop a continuing cabinet rift over the issue with pro-change ministers led by Mo Mowlam lining up against Home Secretary Jack Straw and most other ministers.
Dr Mowlam, who co-ordinates the government's drugs policies, is the only cabinet minister to have admitted to smoking cannabis.
She is privately in favour of redrafting the existing laws and is expected to support the new report.
Supporters of a change claim it would cut police costs and reduce the amount of time "wasted" on pursuing recreational users of soft drugs like cannabis.
They also argue that, all too often, the law reflects a view of drugs that is entirely out of step with the reality experience by users.
As a result, many youngsters see the current laws as an unreliable guide to the relative safety of different drugs.
These arguments have a number of supporters in the government and on the back benches.
International Secretary Clare Short has signalled her support for a Royal Commission on drugs laws - a move promoted by Labour backbencher Ian Gibson.
He, along with Labour's Paul Flynn, believes any such study would inevitably suggest a relaxation of the laws governing cannabis.
Mr Flynn has even gone so far as to suggest that cannabis should be legalised.
Go no further
But Home Office minister Charles Clarke, who has also admitted smoking cannabis when he was a student, has effectively ruled out any change.
"If you relax legislation in this area, I am concerned that consumption will go up, with medical implications included with that. It would be bad for people and bad for society," he said recently.
He also confirmed that the Government would not consider reclassifying ecstasy from a Class A drug to a soft drug such as cannabis, as recommended in the report.
Between 60 and 65 people had died over the past decade from taking ecstasy and that was an unacceptably large figure, he said.
So, whatever the merits of the report, it is a sound bet that the debate will go no further.
Even if the prime minister supported changes to the laws - and there is no indication that he does - there is no way he would want to open this particular can of worms so close to a general election.
He is already frustrated that the government's "big picture" policies have been overshadowed by rows over issues like fox hunting and Clause 28 which are not top of most people's political agendas.
He is determined not to open up another unnecessary fight and, whatever their personal views, most ministers agree with him.
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