CHILDREN 'THINK CANNABIS IS LEGAL'

Primary schoolchildren are increasingly confused about drugs with many
believing that cannabis is legal and a type of medicine, a survey says.

Almost two-thirds of the teachers who participated in the survey by health
education specialists say the proposed reclassification of cannabis could
encourage young children to experiment with the drug.

Charity Life Education Centres surveyed 56 of its teachers across UK
primary schools. More than 85 per cent reported that some children think
cannabis is legal, while 79 per cent say children believe it is a medicine.

Stephen Burgess, national director of Life Education Centres, said: "The
very public debate about cannabis, much of it downplaying the potential
harm, coupled with proposals to reclassify the drug, appear to have
confused many children."

He said those involved with health education must "redouble efforts" to
ensure children are fully aware of the dangers. In the survey, 79 per cent
of teachers said children believed cannabis was safe to use and 73 per cent
said children thought it was less harmful to health than cigarette smoking.

Chairman of health charity The Doctor Patient Partnership, Dr Simon Fradd,
said: "The findings are obviously worrying. Children are exposed to all
kinds of messages about health and drugs through the media, films and the
internet. It is important they have the skills, confidence and knowledge to
filter this information correctly."

Teachers from Life Education Centres visit schools around the country and
use group discussions and role play to encourage children to make healthy
choices.