CANABIS DAMAGES YOUR BRAIN CAMPAIGN SLAMMED

A hard-hitting TV commercial warning youngsters of the damage cannabis
can do to the brain was today criticised by a group which has
campaigned for years in support of the drug.

The advert, by drug helpline Frank, is set in a "brain shop" in the
future where customers can buy new brains when their own have become
too addled.

It aims to highlight how prolonged use of cannabis can lead to mood
swings, poor motivation, paranoia and vomiting.

But Don Barnard, a spokesman for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA),
which has its head office in Norwich, said: "Once again, it's not been
thought out. I don't think young people will relate to it. The good
idea was to reclassify cannabis so they could concentrate police
efforts and educate young people about hard drugs like cocaine. They
should concentrate on getting a sensible message out.

"We want the same thing they do. We want people to be safe, and to
understand that there can be some problems with cannabis, but they're
going the wrong way about it. It's time to consider regulating
cannabis rather than demonising it."

A spokesman for Frank said the aim of the advert was to get the
message through to 11 to 17-year-olds, among whom the use of the Class
C drug has increased since it was declassified from a Class B drug.

Norfolk police was not able to provide statistics of how many under
18-year-olds had been arrested for possessing cannabis.

But Richard Price, drug liaison officer for the force, said: "My gut
reaction is that Norfolk has probably bucked the trend in that
cannabis use has remained fairly static since declassification in 2004."

Unlike adults, who can receive a caution if caught with cannabis,
people under 18 are arrested.

Mr Price said: "Young people need to remember that cannabis might have
been reclassified but it is still an illegal drug.

"It can impact upon their career opportunities and movement in some
countries if they have a conviction."

Norwich coroner William Armstrong has in the past described cannabis
as a "gateway drug" to harder drugs for vulnerable youngsters.