Pubdate: Sun, 03 Jun 2007
Source: Wiltshire Gazette & Herald (UK)
Copyright: 2007sWiltshire Gazette & Herald
Contact:  http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/news.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3271
Author: Sarah Hilley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CANNABIS DANGER TO BE FLAGGED UP

WARNINGS about the dangers of smoking cannabis are  going out in a
council-run campaign today.

The Swindon Community Safety Partnership is flagging up  the risks on
posters around the town.

Messages in the town centre, youth clubs, schools and  libraries will
show how cannabis is linked to mental  health problems.

Information packs will also be sent to school nurses  and GP practices
to back the national drive to raise  awareness of the drug's effects.

"We understand how important it is that everyone in  Swindon,
especially young people, are aware of all the  facts surrounding the
use of cannabis and know where to  go to get advice and help," said
Colin Lovell, Swindon  Council's cabinet member for community and
neighbourhoods.

"We want to build on the nationwide campaign and raise  awareness in
the community."

Cannabis use is known to cause paranoia and can lead to  an increased
chance of becoming psychotic if smoked  from the early teens.

The Government's national drug awareness campaign -  Frank - warns
that people can become dependent on  smoking marijuana.

It can often lead to homelessness, money worries, and  alienation from
family and friends and legal problems,  warns the two-week campaign.

The warning comes after police accidentally stumbled  upon a suspected
cannabis factory in Rodbourne Cheney  on May 20.

Police discovered the marijuana plants after a fire  broke out at a
house in Whitworth Road. Cut and dried  plants were also found at the
address.

According to the owner of the house the property was  rented
out.

Earlier this month a Vietnamese man was convicted of  cultivating the
drug in Swindon. Tam Cao was caught  after police uncovered a drugs
factory at a property in  Haydon Street last summer.

A report released by the Metropolitan police on  Thursday showed that
Vietnamese gangs are setting up  factories outside London to escape
increasing police  scrutiny in the capital.

It is also believed that rising house prices are  forcing them to seek
out cheaper parts of the country.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Steve Heath