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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Children confused over cannabis laws
David Tilley Wandsworth Guardian
Thursday 25 Nov 2004 More than a third of schoolchildren in Wandsworth think cannabis is legal and a fifth have admitted using drugs, a survey has revealed. Wandsworth Council conducted a study on the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs among pupils in the borough. The findings revealed 21 per cent of pupils had used drugs, which was well above the national average of 14 per cent. A further 20 per cent of pupils admitted they had used cannabis, compared with a national average of 16 per cent. The research showed problems increased as pupils got older with smoking, drinking and drug use rising sharply between the ages of 14 and 16. It was also found there was widespread confusion about the law on cannabis, with 39 per cent thinking the Government had made possession of the drug legal. The report was issued to councillors at the health scrutiny committee meeting this month. Councillor Benjamin Holland said: "I think it's shameful that the Government's meddling with drug laws has caused so much confusion to the extent that Wandsworth teenagers don't think that cannabis is harmful for you." Deputy Labour leader Councillor Stuart King said: "The council needs to make educating young people to the dangers of drug misuse a higher priority." A spokesman for Wandsworth Council agreed the findings were worrying, although he maintained they showed very few children had come into contact with hard drugs. He said the council was taking immediate steps with its partners in the health service and other agencies to tackle the problem. "Teachers will be receiving training to help them identify and assist children who may be at risk, while special mentoring programmes are being set up so young people can draw upon the experiences of their older peers," added the spokesman.
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