IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO RECLASSIFY CANNABIS

Sir, Although it was frustrating to read of yet another government
U-turn on the classification of cannabis (report, Jan 9), it is
comforting to learn that it understands that drug classification is
not simply about terms of punishment and crime figures, but has an
impact on the general public and particularly young people.

Teenagers must not be led to believe that cannabis abuse is
acceptable. Sadly, conflicting messages have lured many into a false,
and potentially lethal, sense of security. A terrifying proportion of
the 31,000 young people Drugsline visited last academic year believed
that smoking and possessing cannabis was legal. The possible damage
such misconceptions can cause is immeasurable and coupled with the
growing social acceptance of drug abuse, young people are being led
towards a dangerously blase attitude towards addiction.

Drugsline maintains that prevention is better than cure -- and,
alongside the reclassification, the Government's focus must now be to
ensure effective, comprehensive drugs education is provided for every
school pupil.

Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin

Executive Director, Drugsline