Leading drug policy charity DrugScope has today responded with surprise as the government announced it will ask the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to review cannabis classification for the second time in under two years.
DrugScope acknowledges and informs the public about the harms caused by drugs including cannabis and the charity believes that continued scrutiny of the classification of illegal drugs is right and proper. However, recent debate about the health risk posed by cannabis has been led by some sensationalist coverage in sections of the media rather than a balanced, evidence-based approach.
The ACMD considered new evidence regarding the harms caused by cannabis and reported to the then Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, in late 2005. The ACMD concluded that classification of cannabis should remain class C. Although cannabis is harmful, it was agreed that it was less harmful than other class B drugs.
Recent reports in the UK media have focussed on an increase in potency of the cannabis available. While there is clear evidence that more cannabis is being grown in the UK, most large-scale production is of faster growing, high yield, and less potent varieties. We are yet to see robust evidence of a significant increase in average potency. DrugScope acknowledges that high strength cannabis is available but argues that there has always been cannabis of varying potency available in the UK.
Since reclassification to class C, cannabis use overall, including among young people, has continued to fall. We have no evidence to suggest that reclassifying the drug back to class B would support this trend.
Responding to today's announcement Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope said:
"While it is right to keep the classification of illegal drugs under scrutiny, the classification of cannabis was reviewed, in light of new evidence about its harms, less than two years ago. We believe the decision to keep the drug at Class C, as recommended by the ACMD, was right then and it is difficult to see why it need be changed now.
“Much of the debate about the harms that cannabis can cause has been driven and distorted by some near hysterical media reporting, rather than by a calm consideration of the evidence. Repeated movements on classification will only serve to further confuse young people, and increase the political point-scoring, at a time when cannabis use is falling among young people and adults alike.
“It would be a tragedy and a missed opportunity if the forthcoming review of the drugs strategy became bogged down in a politically heated debate about cannabis. The Government promised a review of the system of drugs classification in January 2006 and then changed its mind. That review now needs to happen."
ENDS
For more information please contact Ruth Goldsmith in the DrugScope Press Office on 020 7940 7517 (07736 895563 out of hours) or at press@drugscope.org.uk
