DOCTORS SUPPORT DRIVE AGAINST CANNABIS

Doctors' leaders said today they were "extremely concerned" that the
imminent downgrading of cannabis would make the public believe it was a
"safe" drug to use.

The substance is due to be reclassified from a class B to a class C drug on
January 29, ranking it alongside bodybuilding steroids and some
anti-depressants.

But the British Medical Association said it was worried how this move would
affect potential drug-users who might be led to believe the drug was now
safe to use. Dr Peter Maguire, deputy chairman of the BMA's board of
science, said they welcomed the Government's campaign to highlight the
dangers of cannabis.

Harmful

He said: "The public must be made aware of the harmful effects that we know
result from smoking this drug.

"The BMA is extremely concerned that the public might think that
reclassification equals 'safe'. It does not.

"We are very worried about the negative health effects of smoking cannabis
and want the Government to fund more research on this issue.

"Chronic cannabis smoking increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer,
bronchitis and emphysema."

When it is downgraded, possession of cannabis will no longer be an
arrestable offence in most cases.

Police will retain the power to arrest users in certain aggravated
situations - such as when the drug is smoked outside schools.

Police will be more likely to confiscate the drugs, and officers will stop
targeting those using cannabis in their own home.

Some drugs campaigners have criticised the move, saying it will encourage
more youngsters to try the drug.

Trigger

But Home Secretary David Blunkett has said the change in the law is
necessary to enable police to spend more time tackling class A drugs such
as heroin and crack cocaine, which cause the most harm and trigger far more
crime.

About 80,000 adults a year are currently arrested and fined for possession
of cannabis.

Research has found that the drug is far more harmful to health than smoking
ordinary cigarettes, with more tar and harmful chemicals taken into the
body. Around 120,000 people die every year in the UK from smoking ordinary
cigarettes.

A UKP1 million Government campaign is to underline the message that
cannabis will remain illegal despite the change in the law.

The advertising campaign will begin tomorrow - one week before the
substance is downgraded.

Millions of leaflets will be handed out while newspapers and radio stations
will carry adverts which warn the drug is harmful to health.