MINISTERS 'FAILED TO WARN PUBLIC OF CANNABIS RISKS'

Health campaigners have accused the Government of creating "dangerous
confusion" over the mental health risks of smoking cannabis after it
scrapped a multi-million pound publicity campaign.

The Home Office announced in January that the publicity drive would
launch in the spring but, six months later, it has been quietly
pushed to one side.

The scheme was recommended by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Drugs, a Home Office committee made up of scientists, medical
experts, drugs charity workers and police. It said that a major
campaign was required to let people know about the mental health
risks and to combat confusion about the drug brought about by the
change in its classification, from class B to class C.

Days later, Charles Clarke, the home secretary at the time, told the
Commons: "The illegal status of the drug is not enough. We need a
massive programme of public education to convey the danger of cannabis use."

Paul Goggins, then a Home Office minister, subsequently said the
campaign would be launched "in the spring" and would cost "many
millions of pounds".

The decision to scrap the campaign has brought an angry response. One
member of the advisory panel, who asked not to be named, said: "We
decided a campaign about the risks associated with mental health was
needed. If charities and members of the public are saying they have
not seen any sign of this campaign, then that speaks for itself."

Prof Robin Murray, from the Institute of Psychiatry, said: "This has
caused a dangerous confusion about cannabis among young people. We
are seeing more people with cannabis-related mental health issues."

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: "This Government's
confused policy has sent out the message that it is okay to take
drugs. They have compounded this error by failing to warn people of
the very harmful consequences of taking cannabis."

Mr Clarke declined to comment on the scrapping of the publicity campaign.

A Home Office spokesman said that information about drug use was
provided on the website talktofrank.com and that the Department for
Education and Skills was running a campaign for 11-to-14 year olds
giving information about drugs.