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UK: DrugScope: Charity surprised by UN chief's cannabis remarks

Politics.co.uk

Monday 26 Jun 2006

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DrugScope: Charity surprised by UN chief's cannabis remarks.

Leading UK drugs charity DrugScope today expressed surprise at remarks
made by the Executive Director of the UNODC that cocaine and heroin are
no more harmful than cannabis. The comments were made at the launch of
the 2006 World Drug Report.

"DrugScope is surprised and concerned by the UNODC Chief's comments
regarding cannabis" said Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of DrugScope.

"The UK government, education system and charities have worked hard in
recent years to ensure our young people are given factual information
about the relative harms of drugs. International evidence is clear that
cocaine and heroin cause much greater health and social harms than
cannabis and it is misleading and irresponsible to suggest otherwise.
Cannabis is a harmful substance but the greater harms caused by cocaine
and heroin should not be downplayed.

"European evidence shows that although stronger strains of cannabis are
available than 20 years ago, there has not been a significant increase
overall in the use of more potent forms of the drug."

Responding to other key issues raised by the report, Barnes continued:

"Although we should not be complacent, cocaine use in the UK has
remained stable in recent years, with last year's figures showing a
slight drop to levels seen in 2000.

"Opium production in Afghanistan continues to be a concern, but it would
be unrealistic to expect a significant reduction in levels of production
without improvements in the country's infrastructure and better access
to alternative sources of income or employment."

DrugScope is the UK's leading centre of expertise on drugs. Our aim is
to inform policy and reduce drug-related risk. We provide quality
information, promote effective responses to drug taking, undertake
research at local, national and international level, advise on
policy-making, encourage informed debate and speak for our member bodies
working on the ground.

http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/domestic-policy/drugs/cannabis/drugscope-charity-surprised-by-un-chiefs-cannabis-remarks-$443314.htm
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/

 

 

 

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