26/10/2007 00:00:00
UK: Cannabis use down since legal change
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Gordon Brown's plans to tighten the law on cannabis by increasing the
penalties for possession suffered a fresh blow yesterday as the latest
official figures showed the decision to downgrade the drug had been
followed by a significant fall in its use.
British Crime Survey statistics showed that the proportion of 16- to
24-year-olds using cannabis slumped from 28% a decade ago to 21% now,
with its declining popularity accelerating after the decision to
downgrade the drug to class C was announced in January 2004.
Mr Brown asked the government's advisory committee on the misuse of
drugs to take a second look at the classification of cannabis in July
after reports that stronger strains of cannabis - known as "superskunk"
- were dominating the British market, with startling implications for
the mental health of frequent users.
At the same time three Home Office ministers, including the home
secretary, Jacqui Smith, publicly admitted using cannabis in their
youth. Ms Smith will have the responsibility of deciding whether to
regrade cannabis as a class B drug early next year when the committee is
expected to report. The change would mean the current police policy of
confiscating any of the drug found and issuing a warning on the street
would be replaced by arrest and a formal caution at a police station.
But the BCS figures published yesterday showed that cannabis is
beginning to lose its allure with teenagers. The proportion of frequent
users in the 16-24 age group, who were using the drug more than once a
month, fell from 12% to 8% in the past four years.
Since cannabis was downgraded the proportion of young people using it
has fallen each year from 25.3% in 2003-4 to 20.9% now. Among those aged
16 to 59, the proportion over the same period has fallen from 10.8% to 8.2%.
Earlier this week, a Joseph Rowntree study found that heavy cannabis use
exacerbated the existing social problems of vulnerable young people but
those in further and higher education who lead relatively stable lives
managed their cannabis use with fewer negative effects.
The decline in cannabis consumption prompted a call from the independent
UK Drugs Policy Commission to take decisions about drug classification
out of the hands of ministers. Dame Ruth Runciman, the commission's
chief, said: "We do not believe the credibility of the current system or
the clarity of message has been enhanced when, in just the space of
seven years, five home secretaries have sought one way or another to
address the classification of cannabis."
Good policymaking had been overshadowed by "politicking", and much of
the confusion among public and politicians stemmed from
misunderstandings about the classification system. The commission also
says there is no evidence a drug's classification deterred use, and
suggested that instead of tinkering the whole classification system
should be placed outside the direct control of politicians.
The Home Office said yesterday the "widespread growing use" of police
powers to issue street warnings was also a likely contributory factor to
a 54% increase in cannabis seizures in 2005. The number of people dealt
with each year by the police for possessing cannabis has doubled since
the drug was downgraded.
Claims that "superskunk", which is up to 10 times stronger than imported
resin, was dominant were also undermined by police and customs seizure
figures. The latest statistics published yesterday showed that 69 tonnes
of cannabis were seized in 2005 of which 49 tonnes were the traditional
resin. Although herbal cannabis seizures, of which "superskunk" is one
variety, were up by 76% - reflecting the growth of a homegrown cannabis
industry - they still only amounted to 20 tonnes, less than one-third of
the market.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/oct/26/drugsandalcohol.homeaffairs
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12954
Author:
The Guardian via UKCIA
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