UK 'TOO SOFT ON CANNABIS DANGERS'

New strains of highly potent cannabis are as dangerous as heroin and
cocaine and the drug can no longer be dismissed as "soft and
relatively harmless", the United Nations said yesterday.

In an implied criticism of Britain's decision to downgrade cannabis,
Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime,
said that countries got the "drug problem they deserved" if they
maintained inadequate policies.

His comments indicated deep unhappiness with the Government's decision
to reclassify cannabis from a Class B drug to Class C. Heroin and
cocaine are Class A substances, attracting the toughest penalties for
possession and trafficking.

"Policy reversals leave young people confused as to just how dangerous
cannabis is," said Mr Costa, introducing the Vienna-based
organisation's annual report.

"With cannabis-related health damage increasing, it is fundamentally
wrong for countries to make cannabis control dependent on which party
is in government. The cannabis pandemic, like other challenges to
public health, requires consensus, a consistent commitment across the
political spectrum and by society at large."

Mr Costa said that cannabis was now "considerably more potent" than a
few decades ago. It was "a mistake" to dismiss it as a soft drug.

"Today the harmful characteristics of cannabis are no longer that
different from those of other plant-based drugs such as cocaine and
heroin," he said.

The UN report estimates that 160 million people use the drug
worldwide, with a growing market for stronger strains - known as
skunk, among other names - which are far stronger than when most of
today's policy-makers were young.

The study claimed that a "significant" number of cannabis users had
experienced panic attacks, paranoia and "psychotic symptoms" during
cannabis intoxication - dangers heightened by the growing availability
of stronger varieties.

It said: "Despite early claims to the contrary, cannabis dependence
is a reality. Many people who use cannabis find it difficult to stop,
even when it interferes with other aspects of their lives, and more
than a million people from all over the world enter treatment for
cannabis dependence each year.

"Research indicates that younger users, whose brains are still
developing, may be especially vulnerable to the negative effects of
cannabis. Despite its normalisation in some countries and its
occasional celebration in popular culture, it should be noted that
cannabis is a powerful drug that has recently become more powerful in
many parts of the world."

Britain downgraded cannabis two years ago in an effort to free police
resources to concentrate on "serious" drugs, such as crack and
heroin. A review of that decision in January this year retained the
current classification.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said the UN report indicated
that "the Government's seriously confused course of action on cannabis
has led to chaos and confusion".

The Home Office emphasised that cannabis remained illegal even if its
classification had been lowered. It claimed that its use had declined
among young people.

A spokesman said: "It is harmful and illegal and no one should take
it."

The report also expressed concern about growing cocaine use,
particularly in western Europe, where demand was reaching "alarming
levels".

"I urge European Union governments not to ignore this peril," Mr
Costa said. "Too many professional, educated Europeans use cocaine,
often denying their addiction, and drug abuse by celebrities is often
presented uncritically by the media leaving young people confused and
vulnerable."

A report from the European Union's Monitoring Centre for Drugs and
Drug Addiction said that drug deaths in Europe were at their highest
ever.