CANNABIS HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS RISE BY 85%

MENTAL health hospital admissions due to cannabis have risen by 85 per
cent since 1996, figures showed yesterday.

Statistics obtained by the shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley
revealed there had been a 63 per cent increase over the past five years.

Mr Lansley obtained the figures from the health minister Rosie
Winterton in a written Commons answer.

They showed that, in 1996-97, there were 510 admissions, rising to 946
in 2005-6.

In 1997-98, there were 506 admissions, 625 in 1998-99, 600 in
1999-2000, 581 in 2000-1, 674 in 2001-2 and 890 in 2003-4. In 2004-5,
there were 869 admissions.

Admissions are not the same as the number of patients, as one patient
may be admitted more than once in a year.

Mr Lansley said: "Awareness of the link between mental illness and
cannabis has increased over recent years, as has the strength of the
drug.

"That's why the Conservatives have opposed the downgrading of cannabis
and pledged to have it reclassified."

At present, cannabis is a class C drug, but there have been calls to
move it back to class B.