FIGURES SHOW MASSIVE LEAP IN 'CANNABIS CASUALTIES'

THE number of people detained in hospital for mental and behavioural
problems due to cannabis has more than trebled in the Lothians.

The new figures come just days after Home Secretary Charles Clarke's
decision not to reclassify the drug from class C to class B.

Statistics set to be released by the Scottish Executive in a
parliamentary answer will show that the number of cannabis-related
casualties soared from 45 to 136 - the highest rise in Scotland.

In Greater Glasgow during the same period, discharges more than
doubled from 74 in 2002-03, to 158 in 2004-05.

However, it is unclear whether the rise is due to more people with
mental health problems admitting they smoke cannabis, following its
reclassification to class C.

The latest Executive figures have been obtained by the Scottish
National Party's health spokeswoman, Shona Robison.

She said: "It is obviously concerning that there's been such a huge
jump. There has certainly been evidence of mental health problems
linked to cannabis use and these figures add weight to that.

"One of the big worries is that there has not been a clear message
given out to young people that cannabis is not a cost-free drug and
that there are long-term effects on the people who use it."

Mrs Robison said research was needed to establish how much of the
rise was a direct result of the drug's reclassification.

The data also shows that acute hospital discharges for problems
related to cocaine also soared by almost 300 per cent in Scotland -
up from 56 in 2000-01 to 190 in 2004-05.

Last year, drugs expert Professor Neil McKeganey said that
reclassification of cannabis would lead to increased usage.

Prof McKeganey, of Glasgow University's centre for drug misuse,
warned that smoking cannabis could lead to lung damage, depression,
anxiety and could cause psychotic episodes in people suffering from
schizophrenia.

Last week, Mr Clarke said he had decided against reversing the
decision two years ago to downgrade cannabis to class C.

The Home Secretary said he accepted the drug could trigger serious
mental illness but pledged a publicity campaign to warn of the dangers.

Mr Clarke said the decision was supported by police and most drug and
mental health charities.

Cannabis was reclassified to class C in January 2004 after it was
decided that it was not as harmful as other class B drugs such as
barbiturates, amphetamine and codeine. Class C means it is ranked
alongside anabolic steroids and GHB, a rave drug. The Advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs told Mr Clarke that although capable
of "real and significant" effects on mental health, cannabis was not
as harmful as other class B drugs.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive stressed that cannabis
remained illegal and harmful. She said: "It brings a risk to physical
and mental health and that's why we are updating our education
campaign on it, and our police forces continue to report people to
procurators fiscal over it."