TIPS ON CANNABIS BEING HANDED OUT IN SCHOOLS

Tips on how to best smoke cannabis and the benefits of the drug are
being handed out to school children, it has emerged.

The 20-page booklet "Know Cannabis" spells out how the drug can make
you feel relaxed and makes music "sound better" as well as whether to
use bongs or buckets and how to roll a joint.

It is not until page 14 that the document points out that the drug is
illegal but is being handed out to young teenagers preparing for their
GCSEs at schools in the North East. It comes as the drugs was
yesterday reclassified from Class C to Class B.

The Government's claim that the U-turn was a sign of taking a tougher
stance faced further embarrassment as magistrates said it was not be
treated as seriously as other Class Bs.

Parents in the North East have demanded the "Know Cannabis" booklets
be removed from schools after claiming they are advertising the drug.

Aimed at youngsters, it includes advice on how best to take the drug.
It carries the cost of 'vaporisers' which are a 'less risky' way to
take the drug and warn not to roll a cannabis cigarette with too many
cigarette papers as 'three skinners will do'.

The booklets begin by telling youngsters to 'Know the effects, how it
is used, the risks, and how to avoid them'.

North East councils including Northumberland only use the booklets
with known drug-users they are trying to help with their habit - but
they are widely used in North Tyneside.

One 45-year-old mum from North Tyneside said she was concerned when
she found out her 15- year-old asthmatic son came home and told her he
had been given 'a lesson on how to smoke cannabis safely'.

She said: "At first I thought he was joking about it. To discuss
smoking with an asthmatic child without explaining the extra dangers
to people with lung problems is incredibly irresponsible.

"Then he showed me the cannabis booklet. I was furious when I read it,
parts of it are designed like an advert for the stuff.

"What is this school thinking of? The only way to avoid the risks of
illegal drugs is to keep well away from them."

North Tyneside Council said the booklet was part of a national drugs
education programme, aimed at alerting Year 11 students to the risks
and harm of drug misuse, and that no complaints had been received from
parents.

But the mum, who did not want to be named to protect her son, added:
"The booklet does mention the dangers of cannabis use. But this is
mixed in with messages that suggest cannabis use is normal and
'acceptable' even, which I am sure most parents will disagree with.

The booklet is produced by Merseyside-based HIT, which provides
'social marketing campaigns' on drugs and alcohol and sexual health,
which said it did not mean to encourage drug use and would be happy to
listen to any complaints.

A North Tyneside Council spokeswoman said: "The materials referred to
are used across the nation by schools as part of the National Drugs
Education Programme.

"The aim of the programme is to alert Year 11 students to the risks
and harm caused by drug misuse. No complaints have been raised with
the school or local authority in relation to these materials."

North Tyneside's Conservative mayoral candidate Linda Arkley said: "We
should be sending a message to children that drugs damage your health
and aren't any good for you.

The Department for Children Schools and Families said it did not
dictate what children were taught about drugs and content of drug
education are taken at local level.

Sunderland Council said it used HIT material, but only where a child
was already known to be using drugs.

Cannabis was officially returned to Class B yesterday, less than five
years after Labour downgraded it.

But users will not face being charged and a court until they are
caught with the drug for a third time, first being given a warning and
then an on the spot fine.

Ministers already faced ridicule after failing to get the necessary
law in place in time to hand out fines.