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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Shock figures on kids and cannabis
Grant Smith Evening Telegraph and Post
Tuesday 12 Jul 2005 Confusion over the legal status of cannabis may have led young people to believe it is okay for them to use it, a Dundee-based youth worker said today, writes Grant Smith. Fiona Bryson, co-ordinator of the Peer Education Project, which teaches older children how to give information on drugs and alcohol to primary seven pupils, said she was concerned the reclassification of cannabis from Class B to Class C status had left many young people with the impression that possession for personal use was allowed. Ms Bryson was speaking following the release of figures from Tayside Police showing the number of 11- to 16-year-olds charged with drug offences has more than doubled between 2002 and last year. In 2002, 79 people in that age group were charged with possession or supply. Almost all the offences involved cannabis, although a handful involved amphetamine, ecstasy or heroin. By last year, the total number of cases had risen to 175, with all but 10 relating to cannabis. There were five each for amphetamine and heroin. Tayside Police said peer pressure might be influencing children to try drugs. There was no evidence of children being targeted by dealers. Ms Bryson said she came into contact with many under-16s and there was clearly confusion about the legal status of cannabis and differences in the law between England and Scotland. "The reclassification of cannabis from Class B to Class C has meant a lot of young people got the message that it's okay to possess it for their own use, but in Scotland it's not okay," she said. She was worried this was also affecting young people's attitudes towards the safety of cannabis use, with the known health risks being downplayed. There was now evidence that cannabis use at an early age could worsen mental health problems. It also entailed using tobacco, which was had health risks of its own. She noted the Government was now reconsidering its position on cannabis classification. While that raised a concern about further confusion, there was a potentially positive outcome if ministers came out with a clear message that cannabis was more harmful than had been thought. Mr Bryson said, "At the Peer Education Project we don't condone drug use at all, but we will support young people in getting the information they need to make their own choices. "There is support out there for people who feel they have made the wrong choice." National body DrugScope warned recently that cannabis users risked perceptual distortions, forgetfulness and confusion. There might also be varying degrees of temporary psychological distress, especially paranoia and anxiety, particularly if the user was already anxious or depressed. "Novice users who do not know what to expect may find the experience of using cannabis particularly distressing, especially if strong variants are involved. Concern has been raised that heavy cannabis use during early adolescence may have some effect on social or cognitive development," the report said.
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