Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n028/a02.html Author: Aryeh Sufrin IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO RECLASSIFY CANNABIS 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 blase 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 - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake