Letter: Advice on cannabis is based on evidence

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Professor David Nutt

The Guardian

Monday 01 Dec 2008

Debra Bell (Letters, November 27) is wrong to imply that cannabis use is on the increase or has become the norm since the government downgraded it to class C in 2004, in line with the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Evidence from the National Centre for Social Research suggests a fall in reported use of cannabis in the 11- to 15-year-old age group, from 13.4% to 9.4% in the years 2001-07. Evidence from the British Crime Survey suggests that in the 16- to 24-year-old age group use has declined from a peak in 1998 of 28.2%, to 20.9% in 2006-07, with the sharpest falls following downgrading.

In its recent assessment the ACMD considered all the latest research, including studies focusing on THC and psychosis. Those studies do not provide evidence of a significant or extensive causal link between cannabis use and persistent psychotic symptoms or schizophrenia. Moreover, the fact that such research has ethical approval indicates that the researchers and their regulators are confident that this is not going to happen.

Over-focusing on cannabis classification distracts from the need to offer proper education to young people and to appropriately police and punish the suppliers of illegal drugs.

Ms Bell argues that the role of the drug classification system is to "give comfort" or to "send a message". This is not the case - the drug classification system categorises substances based on their relative harm. It is the duty of scientific advisers to government to describe the evidence as it is, not as lobby groups would want it to be.

Professor David Nutt
Chairman, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

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