YOUNG 'SEE LAW CHANGE AS GREEN LIGHT FOR CANNABIS'

Teachers yesterday criticised the government for sending out "mixed
messages" to youngsters over drug use through its controversial
reclassification of cannabis earlier this month.

Teenagers were now overtly smoking the drug, they claimed, mistakenly
believing it was now legal and on a par with alcohol and cigarettes.

Delegates at the annual conference of the Professional Association of
Teachers were also told by researchers how disaffected youngsters were even
turning to hard drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin because of low
self-esteem caused by failure at school.

A former teacher and drugs researcher, Jane Lovey, told delegates at the
conference in Telford that drug use invariably started with cannabis. But
she said home secretary David Blunkett's reclassification of the drug had
sent out mixed messages because some thought they could use the drug in
public without fear. Mr Blunkett reclassified the drug earlier this month
from B to C, taking away police officers' right to automatically arrest
those found in possession of small amounts.

Later Mrs Lovey said: "Kids have interpreted what the Home Office said as
cannabis now being legal, and the same as cigarettes or alcohol. Schools
are very vigilant about drug use on their premises, but I've walked past
kids overtly smoking cannabis away from school."

Peter Gemmell, a Derbyshire supply teacher, told the conference: "We hear a
great deal about the effects of the drug culture upon our society but are
we confident that the present government policies will succeed in tackling
the issue?"

Last night the Home Office defended its move. A spokesman said: "We want to
make sure that the correct message is put across and we have done
everything we can to do that. It is important to realise the fact that
cannabis is still illegal and you can still be arrested for smoking it.

"The message we want to send out is that all drugs are harmful, but some
drugs are much more harmful than others. We need to concentrate on those
drugs that cause the most harm."

Mrs Lovey, who has carried out extensive research on drugs use as well as
work on pupil exclusion for the University of Cambridge, said low esteem
caused by failure at school and peer pressure were together a powerful
influence in encouraging youngsters of all ages to turn to both hard and
soft drugs. Low grades at school did not help the confidence of children
who in many cases were already disadvantaged, coming from families "with
generations of lack of self-esteem", she went on.

She was proposing a motion - later passed by delegates - suggesting that
"drug education has become an Aunt Sally because the profession cannot cope
with the reality". She told the conference: "There is a very strong link
between drug use, and obsession with drugs, exclusion from school, or
disaffection within school.

"There is no doubt that for many pupils, for whom school has little joy to
offer, their first experience of smoking cannabis, crack cocaine or heroin
is a wonderful one."