Rubbish. Frank is run by the home office giving biased and factually incorrect information to the people that are looking for answers. Where is the evidence that it lowers sperm count? - Smoking it with tobacco would sertainly do that, as per all the warning on cigarette packets. If it is eaten, and used in moderation (by adults) there is little if any harm caused. Just remind me how many die each year in alcohol related deaths again...

Visit UKCIA.org for unbiased information.

Andy Powell, Aylesbury,

The typical dealer is a friend. That is to say, someone at work or who went to the same school or university. He gets the drugs from another friend, who does the dangerous work of getting them from someone he doesn't really like.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Nicholas Mcgill you are wrong and living in the US it is not surprising you are wrong. Hashich can certainly BE strong but home grown sinsemilla -so called "skunk", is growing in THC strength. The meeting yesterday heard from the scientists that the UK grown product is getting stronger, that the new product does not contain the CBD typically in resin and that the ratio of THC to CBD MAY just may, be one of the reasons more mental problems are being caused. Smoked cannabis is plainly never a medicine. That idea was a nonsense, a silly creation of NORML-Living in the US you should know that.

David Raynes, BATH , UK

As far as I can see from recent news reports, patients are in far more danger from high-pressure salesmanship of inadequately tested drugs by pharmaceutical companies than they are from illegal drug dealers.
Of course, illegal drug dealers don't pay corporation tax into MR Brown's pension fund, do they?

KR, Stockport,

Skunk off a good dealer does NOT cost £200 more around the 160 mark!!!

Tom, london,

Politicians and police love a good headline.I agree that cannabis is not the harmless drug as advocated by wooly minded dope smokers but,the real damage to society is being done by Tobacco and Alchohol.It is time now,in this the twenty first century to stop witch hunting the soundbite substances like cannabis and ecstacy and examine in detail the real damage done in our fast crumbling society by Alchohol and Tobacco.
Our government and the opposition are,and have been for years,perpetuating a massive con trick on us by pretending to look after our interests by continually bleating on about the dangers of "Illegal Drugs".Would it be too much to ask that instead of spewing out the usual soundbites, an objective and scientific approach be commisioned to find out the true effects of all drugs whether it be cannabis,ecstacy,alchohol ortobacco etc? As the saying goes."You can fool some of the people some of the time,,but you cant fool all of the people all of the time"

tommy crooks, tranent, uk

In response to a complaint concering mistreatment of my wife by a member of staff in a local inpatient unit, and drug misuse by staff and patients, I was told by the Chief Executive of the local mental health trust that they had adopted " a zero tolerance approach to drugs" - yet they never searched visitors, patients or staff, nor was there any evidence that they had ever done this. Bosses generally have a real head-in-the-sand approach to what really goes on - in mental hospitals and prisons

Bob Blackman, Fareham , UK

Compare the effect alcohol has on most of the countries high streets on Saturday nights to the prevalence of random violence from gangs of predatory skunk smokers: Perhaps while our unelected prime minister is in the mood for reclassifying drugs, alcohol should be classified as grade A? While Brown is busy reversing decisions his party made two weeks ago, he might also consider reversing the 24 hour drinking law.

Do these people think we have no IQ?

Zen, London,

It's Rubbish. Skunk is cheaper than they say. If they legalised it we might be able to buy some nice hash, I agree there is too much skunk on the street give us a choice.

A good economist will tell you if you leave supply in he hands of organised crime only trouble will follow.

B Real, UK,

More mind numbing spin from government ministers. Drugs, including Cannabis are a demand led business, meaning, drug users search out drug dealers or friends to get them the drug. Drug dealers do not 'prey' or try to persuade people to take drugs; this is a farcial sterotype perpetuated by tabloid newspapers, which doubtless appeals to concerned parents, who don't like to imagine that their childern seeking out drugs through their own initiative.
Whatver the the issue's of drugs in hospital wards, it would be nice if the government would be a little more grown up in its statements. Not, that I'm holding my breath.

Nick Flynn, Brighton, UK

Well, there are many wrong facts here, and misstatements as well. Skunk consumption is up, that's true, but consumption of resin (hashish) is down. Hashish is much more potent than 'skunk', therefore people are choosing a less potent (but locally produced) option. And in fact, many people who share cannabis with friends are not 'exploiting' them, but often the pharmeceutical companies are, and they are not being called to account for it. Prohibition can NEVER work to reduce the use of illegal drugs. I hope that drug abusers can get the help they need, but people who use cannabis as medicine (as well as recreational users) need a safe supply also.

Nicholas Mcgill, Bloomington, IN., USA