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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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France: France launches E10m anti-cannabis campaign
John Thornhill Financial Times
Thursday 03 Feb 2005 Days after easing restrictions on alcohol advertising, the French government launched a E10m ($13m, ukp6.9m) information campaign yesterday to deter cannabis use among young people. Philippe Douste-Blazy, health minister, said cannabis use was more prevalent in France than in any other European country - apart from the Czech Republic and the UK - with 20 per cent of young men and 10 per cent of young women regularly using the drug. "This is a major public health problem," he said. Some other European governments have drawn a distinction between soft and hard drugs and have relaxed the penalties for cannabis use. But Mr Douste-Blazy rejected the "myth" that cannabis was a safe drug. He said the French government would steer a course between excessively permissive and repressive measures to deter its use. "The only solution to lower drug use is to sensitise adolescents and young adults to the problems of health. One must tell them the truth and make them understand, what has never been achieved before, that regular cannabis use is dangerous," he said in Le Figaro newspaper. The government's anti-drugs campaign contrasts with its recent relaxing of some alcohol advertising. Last month, Mr Douste-Blazy brokered a compromise deal between France's wine producers, medical associations and members of parliament to amend the Evin law, which strictly regulated alcohol advertising. French wine producers will now be able to promote the virtues of their region and the quality, smell and taste of their products. But the health ministry insists the aim is to allow French wine producers to compete more effectively against foreign imports and not to encourage an increase in overall alcohol consumption, which has slipped steadily for many years. As part of its anti-drugs campaign, the health ministry is setting up a telephone line to answer questions about cannabis use and will open 240 consultation centres around France. It is launching an advertising campaign later this month on youth television channels and radio stations, which it claims will be the first of its type in Europe. The advertising, which health officials say will try to avoid a moralising tone, will show drug users talking about bad experiences with cannabis. The adverts will end: "Anxiety, malaise, bad trip: cannabis is a reality." The ministry is also planning to distribute written information.
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