Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2005
Source: Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Archant Regional
Contact:  http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/141
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org
Related: How Science Is Skewed to Fuel Fears of Marijuana 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n474/a07.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CLARKE'S CONCERN OVER CANNABIS

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has asked independent advisers to
reassess the dangers of cannabis in the light of new medical research,
it emerged today.

Mr Clarke, who is set to go head-to-head with Legalise Cannabis
Alliance Don Barnard in his Norwich South constituency at the General
Election, has highlighted recent studies suggesting a link between
dope use and mental illness.

He has asked for particular guidance on the Dutch government's plans
to introduce a higher classification for more potent types of cannabis
known as 'skunk'.

Mr Clarke was last month involved in a spat with the Norwich-based
Legalise Cannabis Alliance when he refused to attend their national
conference, saying he had "no respect" for the party.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett downgraded the drug from Class B
to Class C in January last year, making its possession a
non-arrestable offence in most cases.

But in a letter to the chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse
of Drugs (ACMD), Mr Clarke said: "I think there is merit in the
Advisory Council assessing whether their position is at all changed by
the emerging evidence."

His letter, released today by the Home Office, referred to a New
Zealand study which looked at how regular cannabis use affected the
risk of developing psychotic symptoms later in life.

Mr Clarke went on: "I want to be clear what influence the evidence
presented within these studies has on the overall assessment of the
classification of cannabis.

"I am aware the Dutch Government are taking a particular interest in
very high-strength strains and are considering whether cannabis above
a certain strength should be a higher classification."

Mr Barnard said: "I don't disagree with what they are suggesting, but
I believe many of these reports are written by academics for other
academics and in the real world they are simply baloney.

"These supposed links with mental illness, which were first reported
by the BBC, have gone all around the world. But other researchers who
have looked behind the simplistic headlines at the research have found
that it is riddled with holes."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake