CANNABIS LINKED TO MAN'S SUICIDE

A CORONER has urged MPs to look into the death of a Doncaster
supermarket worker before making any decision on the re-classification
of cannabis.

Coroner Stanley Hooper entered the controversy about the
reclassification of the drug after hearing how a young man committed
suicide while suffering from schizophrenia brought on by cannabis use.

Mr Hooper said politicians should reflect on the case of the
21-year-old Stuart Lester when considering whether to upgrade cannabis
to a class B drug.

He also expressed surprise that Stuart's body was hanging from a
bridge on busy Leger Way, Intake, for up to six hours before anyone
reported it. An inquest heard the shelf stacker was a normal boy until
he started using cannabis at the age of 15. Since then he had become a
paranoid schizophrenic who made several attempts on his life.

Recording a verdict that Stuart killed himself, Mr Hooper said he had
been diagnosed as schizophrenic at the age of 17 and this was thought
to be brought on by cannabis use as a child.

He added: "There had recently been discussions by politicians as to
whether or not it was a mistake to reclassify cannabis and whether or
not it should be reclassified as B rather than C. When considering
possible reclassification those whose duty it is to do so may reflect
upon the death of Stuart Lester.

"The use of cannabis can lead to devastating effects. It may be
thought that this may not have happened had this young man not used
cannabis as a child."

Stuart took a number of Ecstasy tablets before leaving his home in
Essex Avenue, Intake, in the early hours of February 26 and used a
rope to hang himself from the bridge near Danum School. It was not
until after 6am that a passing motorist saw it and alerted police.

"I find it puzzling that his body was not reported to police until
after 6am because he must have been dead for some while. One finds it
rather difficult to suppose that no-one had seen him before 6am and I
infer that some people had passed it but not reported it," said Mr
Hooper.

Stuart had spent various spells in hospital since becoming
schizophrenic but was living at home with his mum and younger brother
when he decided to take his own life.