|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Letters on reclassification move Graham Brady MP, David Crane, Cliff Prior, Sebastian Saville, The Times Letters Monday 09 Jan 2006 Sir, Charles Clarke says that he is “very worried” about recent evidence linking cannabis to mental health problems (report, Jan 5) and implies that ministers were unaware of the link when they decided to downgrade the drug. In October 2003 I warned the House of Commons about the danger of cannabis leading to depression and schizophrenia. In the same month, in a written answer to my question on the relationship between the incidence of psychosis and cannabis use, the then Health Minister, Melanie Johnson, replied: “There has been a lot of debate about the use of cannabis and whether it can lead to mental illness, especially schizophrenia. No clear causal link has been proven for the latter, although recent epidemiological research has shown a stronger association than previously evident. Cannabis use can unquestionably worsenexisting schizophrenia (and other mental illnesses) and lead to a relapse in some patients.” If the Government knew all that in 2003, it was grossly irresponsible to go ahead with reclassification. Mr Clarke’s suggestion that this evidence is new is disingenuous, to say the least. GRAHAM BRADY, MP House of Commons Sir, The Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, should be congratulated for recognising the serious mental health risks posed by cannabis and the need for a public health information campaign. He needs to take two more steps: first, ask the Department of Health to lead the information campaign to make it clear that reducing cannabis use can’t be achieved by the criminal justice system alone; and second, do not change its legal classification again, which can only create greater confusion and divert much needed resources from reduction strategies that work. CLIFF PRIOR Chief Executive, Rethink London EC2 Sir, Charles Clarke says he was “struck by the advocacy from proposers of reclassification that they were wrong”. Presumably he is not referring to the advocacy of Rethink, the UK’s premier mental health charity, who has urged the Government not to put cannabis back to class B nor to respond to a knee-jerk desire to stiffen penalties. The more dangerous cannabis is, the more its manufacture and sale need to be controlled. Prohibition is the worst mechanism possible for achieving this. DAVID CRANE Cannabis Sense London N19 Sir, The worst-kept secret in the drugs field is that, after a detailed scrutiny of the evidence, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs does not advise the reclassification of cannabis to Class B and recommends it remains in Class C. If the Government’s own appointed group of experts is completely clear about this, why are further confusing messages being floated in the press? SEBASTIAN SAVILLE Director, Release London EC1 Sir, Charles Clarke really cannot be allowed to get away with the implication that the Government was unaware of the strong link between the taking of cannabis and schizophrenia and that this is based on “recent evidence”. Every GP and every psychiatrist in the land was aware of this at the time and our warnings were voiced, only to be ignored. Why, in case after case, does the Labour Party only listen to party theorists and to those who agree with it, and not to professionals who have to pick up the pieces? DR PAUL D. OLDFIELD Northwich, Cheshire
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!