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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis on sale at school gates
Manchester Evening News
Thursday 24 Mar 2005 TODAY the Manchester Evening News reveals the shocking price being paid by our schoolchildren for the relaxation of cannabis laws. Our investigation has revealed that some kids routinely turn up to lessons "stoned" and many think buying cannabis is as normal as popping to the shop for a bottle of milk. We have found teenagers who admitted to smoking cannabis on the way to school and falling asleep in class. And we have discovered that many need travel no further than the school gates to top up their supplies. The MEN watched one lunchtime at a Greater Manchester high school. We were there only minutes when a drug dealer turned up and handed round cannabis. We caught on camera several children brazenly smoking joints before wandering back to class. The casual way they acted showed it was nothing out of the ordinary for them. Teachers, health workers and police warn that youngsters have never been so exposed to the drug despite mounting evidence of links with mental illness. They believe the explosion in use is fuelled by ignorance over health risks and by confusion surrounding the downgrading of the drug from class B to class C just 14 months ago. The government this week commissioned a review of that controversial legislation, with Home Secretary Charles Clarke concerned over mental health issues. Today and tomorrow we present compelling evidence that dangers of increasing tolerance of the drug outweigh potential benefits. Dangers Charles Clarke was in Manchester yesterday to discuss anti-social behaviour and we used the opportunity to share our startling findings. He said of the pictures: "There is a responsibility for schools to ensure that children are aware of the dangers of drug abuse. "Schools need to be policing the area around the school and working with their local beat officer." He denied the government reclassification was to blame for an increase in use or confusion over the law. He said: "I have heard that argument and I want to make it clear, cannabis is, and has always been, an illegal drug." Police say that since the change in the law they increasingly turn a blind eye to the drug to concentrate on more `serious' crime. But at the same time scientists claim growing evidence of a link between mental health problems and cannabis. Greater Manchester's only schools drug service has seen the number of children asking for help rise from a handful five years ago to 700 in Stockport alone last year. Manager Babs O'Brien says society is "turning a blind eye" to the increase in cannabis use. Police say a 120 per cent increase in cannabis seizures is because of the downgrading. Bill Lloyd, head of GMP's drug prevention unit, said: "There is anecdotal evidence that the cannabis supply chain had become better since the relaxing of laws. "The increase in seizures doesn't necessarily mean there's more about, it just shows people are adopting a more relaxed approach", he said.
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