Pubdate: Sat, 20 May 2006
Source: Swindon Advertiser (UK)
Contact: http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/aboutus/contactus/
Copyright: 2006 Swindon Advertiser
Website: http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4168
Author: Gareth Bethell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

WARNING OVER CANNABIS USE

THE manager of a mental health charity has warned of the potential
dangers of smoking cannabis.

Her comments follows Keith Thompson's declaration that he will keep
smoking pot despite his home being raided by police.

As reported in yesterday's Adver, Keith, 53, pictured right, has been
smoking between 10 and 12 rolled-up joints for 30 years.

Police found eight cannabis plants at his house in The Rosary, Wootton
Bassett, but he insists they were for his own use and he is doing no
harm.

He was questioned by police and later released without
charge.

Kathleen Aitken, manager of Swindon and District MIND, said: "The
problem is that cannabis can affect different people in different ways
and unfortunately for some people it can tip them into psychosis.
There's no way of knowing ahead of time which people are in that
category. This person could be potentially damaging himself."

Mrs Aitken has called for a greater awareness on the risks of smoking
cannabis.

"There are statistics now that show there is a huge rise of people
admitted to the mental health system through smoking cannabis and
people don't really appreciate the dangers."

A spokesman from Swindon Druglink, which helps drug addicts tackle
their addictions, agreed with Mrs Aitken.

"It's well documented that people that smoke cannabis can enhance
psychiatric problems," he said.

But he pointed out that Mr Thompson's use might not be as prolific as
it appears.

"Twelve a day sounds a lot but it depends on how much he puts in," he
said.

"If it's just a tiny bit in each one it might not be as bad as it
sounds.

"It could be worse to have one a day rather than 10 because it all
depends on the strength."

He added that it was important for people to remember cannabis is
still an illegal drug despite it being downgraded to a class C.

"It still is an illegal drug and I think that because of the
reclassification people think that it's not that harmful," he said.

"When it was first reclassified we had people coming in who thought it
was legal now but it's not."

The spokesman said there was no direct link between people using
cannabis and progressing on to harder drugs, but said: "What we tend
to find is cannabis users are younger people. It's not uncommon that
people on the harder drugs have used cannabis in the past."