SKUNK CANNABIS SMOKERS SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM PSYCHOSIS

Ultra-potent skunk cannabis is seven times more likely to trigger
psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia than traditional hash, a
study has warned.

The research, by the highly-respected Institute of Psychiatry in
London, will deepen concerns over the safety of cannabis amid
political controversy over its criminal status.

Dr Marta Di Forti, who led the research, said: 'Our study is the first
to demonstrate the risk of psychosis is much greater among frequent
cannabis users, especially among those using skunk, rather than among
occasional users of traditional hash.

'Psychosis was associated with more frequent and longer use of
cannabis. Our most striking finding is that patients with a first
episode of psychosis preferentially used high-potency cannabis
preparations of the skunk variety.'

Skunk contains high levels of the psychoactive ingredient delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, which can trigger psychotic symptoms.

In South-East London, where the study was carried out, the THC content
of hash is less than 4 per cent but in skunk it is 18 per cent.

In the past two years skunk has come to dominate the cannabis market,
with its price dropping to under UKP5 a gram.

Some experts believe skunk is so potent it should be treated
differently from other types of cannabis and put on a par with Class A
drugs such as cocaine and Ecstasy.

Last month Professor David Nutt was forced to step down as chairman of
the Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs after
criticising the decision to push cannabis back into the more serious
Class B after a period of downgrading.

Its downgrading from B to C had been increasingly controversial as
concern grew over its effects.

The sacking of Professor Nutt, who claimed the drug was less harmful
than alcohol and tobacco, caused a revolt among members of the
advisory council with several resigning.

The number of under-25s smoking cannabis was almost one in five last
year, even though use has been falling since 2001.

This latest study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry,
involved 280 patients aged 18 to 65 attending a South London hospital
with a first episode of psychosis, compared with 174 healthy people.

Those with psychosis were twice as likely to have used cannabis for
longer than five years, and more than six times likely to take it every day.

Significantly cannabis users who smoked skunk were 6.8 times more at
risk of being treated for a psychosis than those who took hash.

Other studies show hash users are at double the risk of suffering
psychosis compared with those who never use the drug.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE,
said: 'Those of us on the front line, including psychiatrists, police
and families, know that skunk cannabis can be particularly dangerous
for the significant minority of people vulnerable to mental illness.

'We need to give out an uncompromising warning about the specific
links between skunk and mental illness.'

Drug charity Turning Point welcomed the findings. Spokesman Harry
Walker said: 'We now have confirmation of what many suspected and it
is important that we act on these findings.'