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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Young 'see law change as green light for cannabis'
Rebecca Smithers The Guardian
Wednesday 31 Jul 2002 Teachers yesterday criticised the government for sending out "mixed messages" to youngsters over drug use through its controversial reclassification of cannabis earlier this month. Teenagers were now overtly smoking the drug, they claimed, mistakenly believing it was now legal and on a par with alcohol and cigarettes. Delegates at the annual conference of the Professional Association of Teachers were also told by researchers how disaffected youngsters were even turning to hard drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin because of low self-esteem caused by failure at school. A former teacher and drugs researcher, Jane Lovey, told delegates at the conference in Telford that drug use invariably started with cannabis. But she said home secretary David Blunkett's reclassification of the drug had sent out mixed messages because some thought they could use the drug in public without fear. Mr Blunkett reclassified the drug earlier this month from B to C, taking away police officers' right to automatically arrest those found in possession of small amounts. Later Mrs Lovey said: "Kids have interpreted what the Home Office said as cannabis now being legal, and the same as cigarettes or alcohol. Schools are very vigilant about drug use on their premises, but I've walked past kids overtly smoking cannabis away from school." Peter Gemmell, a Derbyshire supply teacher, told the conference: "We hear a great deal about the effects of the drug culture upon our society but are we confident that the present government policies will succeed in tackling the issue?" Last night the Home Office defended its move. A spokesman said: "We want to make sure that the correct message is put across and we have done everything we can to do that. It is important to realise the fact that cannabis is still illegal and you can still be arrested for smoking it. "The message we want to send out is that all drugs are harmful, but some drugs are much more harmful than others. We need to concentrate on those drugs that cause the most harm." Mrs Lovey, who has carried out extensive research on drugs use as well as work on pupil exclusion for the University of Cambridge, said low esteem caused by failure at school and peer pressure were together a powerful influence in encouraging youngsters of all ages to turn to both hard and soft drugs. Low grades at school did not help the confidence of children who in many cases were already disadvantaged, coming from families "with generations of lack of self-esteem", she went on. She was proposing a motion - later passed by delegates - suggesting that "drug education has become an Aunt Sally because the profession cannot cope with the reality". She told the conference: "There is a very strong link between drug use, and obsession with drugs, exclusion from school, or disaffection within school. "There is no doubt that for many pupils, for whom school has little joy to offer, their first experience of smoking cannabis, crack cocaine or heroin is a wonderful one."
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