Sir, Although it was frustrating to read of yet another government U-turn on the classification of cannabis (report, Jan 9), it is comforting to learn that it understands that drug classification is not simply about terms of punishment and crime figures, but has an impact on the general public and particularly young people.

Teenagers must not be led to believe that cannabis abuse is acceptable. Sadly, conflicting messages have lured many into a false, and potentially lethal, sense of security. A terrifying proportion of the 31,000 young people Drugsline visited last academic year believed that smoking and possessing cannabis was legal. The possible damage such misconceptions can cause is immeasurable and coupled with the growing social acceptance of drug abuse, young people are being led towards a dangerously blasé attitude towards addiction.

Drugsline maintains that prevention is better than cure — and, alongside the reclassification, the Government’s focus must now be to ensure effective, comprehensive drugs education is provided for every school pupil.

Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin
Executive Director, Drugsline

Sir, According to your figures, about 8.25 per cent of the country’s 37 million 16-59 year-olds use cannabis. This is more than three million people. If cannabis were reclassified as a class B drug and these people were all imprisoned for up to five years for possession — as the law would require — the Home Office would have to build more than 700 maximum size prisons to accommodate them.

It is hardly joined-up thinking to criminalise such a large proportion of the population. Cannabis use clearly has some risks but prohibition has never worked.

Andrew Holt
London N10

Sir, Gordon Brown is not known for his recklessness, but his reported views on cannabis fly in the face of all the mental health evidence. Why reclassify cannabis when use is going down among the groups most at risk from it? Mr Brown should be conserving scarce government resources for the one thing that would make a difference to use: health education. Next month we will release research findings which show that only 3 per cent of users quit for legal reasons. Does he really think that average users are going to change their habits because of a change of classification?

Paul Jenkins
Chief Executive, Rethink

Sir, I can’t help thinking that Gordon Brown is reclassifying cannabis not because of new evidence but because it is a vote winner among concerned parents.

I visit schools, hospitals, drug rehab centres and counselling services, and listen to teachers, parents, children, counsellors, addicts and ex-addicts, and am told by the police that the worst piece of legislation passed by this Government was the downgrading of cannabis. They tell me that their hands are tied and that the users believe it is now legal and that the police will not touch them.

I have seen the devastating effects skunk has on teenagers and their parents. This drug is mind altering and I have witnessed too many boys who are flunking exams, giving up sport and stealing to get money for the next fix, which is readily available in sleepy villages as well as town centres.

Too little, too late, Mr Brown, for a number of our children.

Janice Small
Platt, Kent

Explore Letters

• Feedback