WARNING: DON'T BLOW YOUR LIFE ON CANNABIS

BUSES across the borough are to carry stern banners to try to stop young
people going to pot.

The 'Cannabis: Don't Blow It' campaign, backed by celebrities including
Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, aims to get across the legal and
health implications of using drugs.

Next week Stockport Drug Action Team hopes to get across the message that
cannabis is still illegal and to give out advice through a number of events
in the borough.

Posters are being put up in public places and advisors will be on hand in
supermarkets, with the help of local businesses.

Stockport County player Dave Challinor added his support to the campaign,
saying: "As a youngster, I was often put under pressure by my peers to get
involved with drugs.

"Saying no was never easy but I know if I had said yes I would not be a
professional football player today." And Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Drugs are
such a waste of time and can ruin your chances in life.

"Stay fit and healthy, play sport instead and give yourself every
opportunity you deserve." In 2001, the first cannabis cafe opened up in
Stockport town centre, headed by campaigner Colin Davies of Brinnington,
who was subsequently jailed. Now cannabis is likely to be reclassified from
a Class B to a Class C drug, which could lead to some users wrongly
believing it is now legal. Peter Driver, Chief Superintendent of Stockport
Police, said: "Don't be fooled into thinking the police will ignore cannabis.

You can still be arrested for smoking it and if you supply it the
consequences can be very serious.

"We will be working together with schools, the Drug Action Team and health
and youth services to protect young people in Stockport from drugs of all
kinds and cannabis is no exception to this." Specialist advisors will be on
hand to provide advice at display boards in local supermarkets including
Safeway in Reddish and Bredbury, Morrisons in Cheadle Heath, Co-op in
Marple, Sommerfield in Heaton Moor and Sainsbury's in Hazel Grove.

Councillor Stuart Corris, Stockport Council's executive member for
community development, added: "Most young people in Stockport do not use
cannabis but the number that do is higher than we want it to be. We want to
send out a very clear message that cannabis is still illegal and will
remain so even after reclassification." The five key messages of the
campaign are:

You can still be arrested for having cannabis, and if you pass it on you
can go to prison

Cannabis can sap your energy, affect your memory, smells and can be a real
turn-off

Cannabis and tobacco harm your lungs and can get you hooked - nicotine is
addictive

If you are feeling depressed or worried, cannabis can make you feel worse

Being 'stoned' can make you lose out at school and at work - don't blow it