75% OF CANNABIS SEIZED IS SKUNK: MALCOLM MOSS MP REACTS.

North East Cambridgeshire MP, Malcolm Moss, last week backed greater publicity for the dangers of cannabis by signing EDM 2145 on the Dangers of Cannabis.

Malcolm Moss joins other MP’s and mental health charities such as SANE in raising awareness of the mental health risks presented by skunk, a type of cannabis that can be two or three times more powerful than other types of this class C drug.

The signatories of the EDM, including Malcolm Moss are reacting to The Lancet warning that cannabis users are up to 40 per cent more likely than non-users to develop a psychotic illness.  The study warns that up to 800 cases of schizophrenia per year in Britain could be linked to the drug.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, said: "This analysis should act as a serious warning of the dangers of regular or heavy cannabis use."  

The downgrading of cannabis to a class C drug has made the offence of possessing cannabis a routinely non-arrestable offence.  This lack of deterrent has resulted in seizures of all forms of cannabis raising 42 per cent in the first half of this year and according to the Forensic Science Service 75 per cent of this is skunk. 

The mental health problems as well as social problems coming from cannabis abuse are very real in the North East Cambridgeshire area.  In recognition of this Malcolm Moss says ‘This EDM is hoped to be another way of raising awareness of the dangers of cannabis; an effectively de-criminalised drug without the same levels of public warning afforded to alcohol and smoking’.