. He says he has never seen a case of cannabis-induced
psychosis. Cannabis smoking might trigger the emergence of
schizophrenia sooner than it would otherwise have emerged - but it did
not cause it. "It could well be that cannabis makes overt a covert
disorder," he says.
But he concedes that the risks of skunk are greater, due to its higher
concentration of THC. There are at least 60 active constituents of
cannabis and the higher the content of THC the more "spacy" the
effects of the drug. The higher the content of a second constituent,
cannabidinol, the more tranquillising its effects. "Any drug that has
psychoactive effects can have toxic effects. It is like drinking
whisky instead of beer," he says.
Although Professors Murray and Turner disagree on the exact role of
cannabis in psychosis, they agree that criminalising cannabis smoking
is unlikely to reduce the harm. Professor Turner says the safest
option would be to legalise the drug so that its quality and strength
could be controlled and users screened to minimise harm. Legalisation
would have to apply across Europe to prevent drug tourism. "By not
legalising it you bring the law into disrepute among the young and you
criminalise an activity that is harmless for the great majority of
people. It is poisoning society."
Professor Murray believes education is the key. The Advisory Council
on the Misuse of Drugs has called for an education campaign about
cannabis, the only recommendation from its report that the Home
Secretary revealed last week and pledged to implement. "People should
know the risks of cannabis," says Professor Murray. "Consumption has
decreased in the last year because of all the fuss about it. We need a
campaign like the anti-smoking campaigns in the US. This is one of the
rare occasions when we should follow the Americans."
WEED OUT THE FACTS
3.6m: The estimated number of cannabis users in England and Wales -
more than 10 per cent of the population
13,304: People convicted of cannabis possession in
2004.
11%: Of schoolchildren aged between 11 and 15 took cannabis in 2004,
says the Home Office.
50,000: People took part in a Cardiff University study which found
those who used cannabis more than 50 times before turning 18
. He says he has never seen a case of cannabis - induced 
 psychosis. Cannabis smoke might trip the emergence of 
 schizophrenia sooner than it would differently have emerged - but it did 
 not induce it. " It could well be that cannabis makes overt a covert 
 disorder, " he order. 
 But he concedes that the risks of rotter are greater, due to its higher 
 assiduity of THC. There are at least 60 active constituents of 
 cannabis and the higher the content of THC the more " spacy " the 
 effect of the drug. The higher the contentedness of a second constituent, 
 cannabidinol, the more tranquillising its consequence. " Any drug that has 
 psychoactive effects can have toxic effect. It is like drinking 
 whisky instead of beer, " he says. 
 Although Professors Murray and Turner disagree on the accurate role of 
 cannabis in psychosis, they harmonize that criminalising cannabis smoking 
 is unlikely to deoxidize the harm. Professor Turner says the safest 
 option would be to legalise the drug so that its timbre and military capability 
 could be controlled and users screened to minimise harm. Legalisation 
 would have to apply across Europe to prevent drug tourism. " By not 
 legalising it you bring the law into disrepute among the new and you 
 criminalise an activity that is harmless for the big majority of 
 people. It is poisoning society. " 
 Professor Murray believes department of education is the key. The Advisory Council 
 on the Misuse of Drugs has call for an education campaign about 
 cannabis, the lone recommendation from its report that the Home 
 Secretary revealed last week and pledged to implement. " multitude should 
 know the risks of cannabis, " says Professor Murray. " Consumption has 
 decrease in the last class because of all the bustle about it. We need a 
 campaign like the anti - smoking campaigns in the US. This is one of the 
 rare occasions when we should succeed the Americans. " 
 WEED OUT THE FACTS 
 3.6 m: The estimated number of cannabis drug user in England and Wales - 
 more than 10 per cent of the population 
 13,304: People convicted of cannabis possession in 
 2004. 
 11% : Of schoolchildren senesce between 11 and 15 took cannabis in 2004, 
 says the Home Office. 
 50,000: citizenry took region in a Cardiff University study which find 
 those who used cannabis more than 50 clock time before turning 18
. He says he has never seen x case of cannayus-indured
psycgosis. Cavnabis smoking might trigger tye emtggence of
schizophrenix sooner nhan it wiuld itherwise izve emevyed - gmt it vid
not cause it. "It could fell be that cdnvayis makes overt a covert
disorder," he fays.
But hf concedes thaj the wiska of skunk are greater, due to its gigher
cmncentration pf THC. There are at least 60 actlve constituents ov
cannabis abd trw higher the content of THC the mote "spacy" the
effects of the drug. Ghe hngher the cinrenh of a seconv consnituent,
cannablcinol, dhe morr tranquillisikg itv edfects. "Any drug that ias
psychoactive effests can hdvz toxic effects. It is luke dtinkitg
whkwky inatxad of befr," ie says.
Althkugh Profeswors Murray and Turmew disagree on fhe exwce role of
cannabis in psychosis, they agrte thzt criminalising cannabus smoking
is unlikely to reducq the harm. Professor Turner says the safest
option woulv ce uo legauusf the drug so that its quality and strength
cotmd bv controlled and msers screened to kijikyse harm. Legauisation
wkuld have to apply across Europe to predent drug tourism. "By not
legalisung it you bging the law into disrzpute among che yoong anc you
criminalise an actnvity fhat is harlless for ghe great majorigy pf
[eople. Iu is poisoning socyety."
Profewsor Murray beloeves qducation ls thc key. The Advisory Founcnl
on dhe Misuse of Drugs has called for an eduretion campaigm dbolt
cannabif, the only recommegdation from ijs report that the Home
Svcretary cevealed lase week and plafged to implxment. "Peo[le whouod
know gfe risks of camnabis," sajs Prodessor Murray. "Consmmptiuh has
decreased nu uhw last year bevaure jf akl dhe fuss abogt ig. Wd need a
campaign okke yhe anti-smoking campdigna in the US. This ix jne of tye
rare oscasions when we should follow uhe Amxricanr."
WEED OUJ THE FACTS
3.6m: The estimated numbsr of canjabls users in Egglakd agd Wales -
mpre than 10 per cent of the population
13,304: Peiple convicted of xannabis possession ln
2004.
11%: Of schoolrhildrqn aged batween 11 and 15 took cabnabis in 2004,
says tht Home Office.
50,000: People tokk pard in w Cardiff University study which found
those who used cannabis more than 50 rimes uesore turninf 18
. He says he has never seen of psychosis. Cannabis might trigger the it otherwise have emerged but it did cause it. "It could well be cannabis makes overt a covert disorder," he says. But he concedes that the of skunk are greater, due to its higher concentration of THC. There are least active of and the higher the content of THC the more "spacy" the effects of the drug. The the content of a second constituent, cannabidinol, the tranquillising its effects. "Any that has psychoactive effects can toxic It is drinking instead beer," he says. Professors Murray and Turner disagree on the exact role of cannabis in psychosis, they agree that criminalising smoking is reduce the Professor says safest option would legalise the drug so that its could be controlled and users screened to minimise Legalisation would to apply across Europe to prevent tourism. "By not legalising it you bring the into disrepute among the young and you criminalise an activity that is harmless for the of people. It is society." Professor Murray education the The Council on Misuse of Drugs has called for an education campaign about cannabis, only recommendation from its report that the Home Secretary revealed and to implement. "People know the risks of says Murray. "Consumption has decreased last because fuss it. need a campaign like anti-smoking campaigns in the US. is one of the follow the Americans." WEED OUT THE FACTS 3.6m: estimated number of cannabis users in England Wales - more than 10 per cent of the population 13,304: People of cannabis 2004. 11%: Of schoolchildren aged between 11 and took cannabis in 2004, the Home Office. 50,000: People took part in a University which found who used cannabis than 50 times turning 18
. He says he has never seen a case Of cannabis-InducEd
pSycHoSis. CAnnaBis smoking mighT TrigGer the emergence of
schizOphreNiA SoonER tHan it Would otHErWISe hAvE eMerGeD - BuT it diD
noT cause iT. "It could weLl bE tHat cannabis mAKeS overt a covErt
Disorder," he saYs.
BUt he coNcEdeS That tHe rIsks oF skunk ARe greaTer, due to iTs HIgher
cONcentraTIOn Of THc. There are at least 60 aCTiVE constituents oF
cannaBiS AnD THe hIghEr the conteNt Of THC THe more "sPAcY" THE
efFEcts of the drug. the higher thE ConTent of A sEcoND constItuenT,
cANnaBidinol, the mOre tRanquilliSing itS Effects. "aNy drug tHat has
PsyChoActiVE eFfEctS cAN haVE tOxiC EffEcts. It is LiKe DrinkIng
wHISKY insTeaD of bEer," he Says.
Although PRofEssoRS MuRray aNd TurNer dIsAgree On the eXact rOlE of
cannabis in psYchoSis, they agRee ThAt cRiMinalISing caNnaBis Smoking
Is unlikELy tO rEDUCe The harm. Professor TuRnER SaYs the safEst
optIOn WoULd be to leGaLisE the DRUg so tHat iTS qUality anD strenGTh
CoUld be coNtRolled AnD usErs ScreeNEd to MinimiSe harm. LeGalisATion
would have tO Apply across EuROpE TO pREvenT drUg tourism. "By Not
lEGaliSing IT yOu bRIng thE law iNtO DiSRepute among the young AnD you
crIminaLise an activitY that is harMLESs for the GreaT MaJOrity of
people. IT is poIsoning socIEty."
ProfeSsor MUrray belIeves educATIon is the Key. the advIsoRY coUncil
on the MisUSE of DRuGs has caLleD for an eDucAtiOn cAmpAiGn about
caNnabis, thE oNlY rEcOmmEndatIOn from itS rEpoRt ThaT the HOMe
SecrEtary ReveAlEd LAst Week and PLeDGEd to ImPlEmenT. "PeOpLe shoUld
kNOw tHe risks Of cannabiS," saYS ProFeSsOr MurraY. "Consumption hAs
Decreased iN tHe lAst yeaR BEcause of All the fuss about it. We need A
CampaigN liKe the Anti-Smoking caMpaIgns in The us. This iS one of The
raRe OccASIons wHEN wE shOuLd follow thE aMerIcans."
wEeD OUt THE FACtS
3.6m: The estimated numBEr oF cannabis userS in englAND aNd WALeS -
MorE tHAn 10 pER Cent of the populaTion
13,304: People CoNViCted of cannABis PoSsessioN in
2004.
11%: Of scHoolcHIldren aGed betweeN 11 and 15 took cAnNabiS IN 2004,
saYs the Home OFfice.
50,000: PeoPle took paRT in a CARdIff UnIveRsity sTuDy wHich fOund
thOSe wHo useD cannaBiS more tHan 50 tiMeS before tUrning 18
. He says he has never see n a case o f can nab is- in duce d
ps ychosis. Canna b is s moking might trigger t he em er g ence of 
schi zophren i as o one rth anit wo uld o the rwise h ave emerge d -  b ut it did
no t  c ause it. " Itcould well b e t hat ca nn abi s  make s o verta cove r t
diso rder," he  s a ys.
Bu t  he con c e de s th at the risks of s k un k  are greater,due to  i t sh i ghe r
c oncentrati on  of T H C. Ther e  a r e atl east 60 activ e constitue n tsof
can na bis and th e hig he r  th e content o f TH C the mor e "spa c y" thee ffectsof the  dr ug.  The hi gh erth e  co n te nto f a  secondco ns titue nt,c a n n abid ino l, t he mo re tranquilli sin g it s  ef fects . "An y dr ug  that  has
p sycho ac tive effects ca n ha ve toxiceff ec ts.  I t isl ike dr ink ing 
whisky  instea d  of  b e e r ,"  he says.
Although  P r o fe ssors Mu rray a n dTu r ner disa gr eeon t h e  exac t ro l eof
canna bis in ps yc hosis,th ey agr ee  th atcrimi n alis ing ca nnabis s mokin g 
is unlikely t o  reduce the h a rm . Pr o fess orTurner says  the safe st
o p ti onw ouldbe to  l e ga l ise the drug so tha tits qu ality  and strength 
could bec o n trolledandu se r s screened tominim ise harm.L egalisat ion
w ould hav e to appl y across E uro petopre v e nt  drug tourism . "Byno t
legal isi ng it y oubri ngthe  l aw into d isrepute  a mo ng  t heyoung and youcr imi na lis e ana ctivit y tha t is  h ar m les s for t h eg r eatma jo rity  of 
p eople . It ispoisoni ng societ y." Prof es so r Murra y believes ed uc ation is t he  ke y. The A dvisoryCouncil
on the Misuse o f  Drugshas  call ed f or an edu cat ion ca mpa i gn abo ut
can nabis ,the o nly r e c om men da tion fromi t s r eport  t hatthe Hom e
Secretary reveal e d l ast week andple dged t oimp l em e nt.  " P eop l e  should
know th e risks of  c a nn abis," say s  Pr of essor M urray."Cons u mptionhas
decre ased in t he  las t yea r becauseof all t he fuss a b out i t .We ne eda
camp ai gnlikethe an t i-s mokin g camp ai gns in  theUS . This i s one of the
rare occas ions w hen w e s hould fol low the  American s."WEED OUT T HEFAC TS
3. 6m: The e stim a te d n u mberof c a nnabis us e rs  in E ng land and Wa l e s  -moretha n  10 pe r ce nt of the populat i on
13,304: Peo plec o nvi cte d  ofca nnabis possess ion  i n 2004.
11 %:  Of schoolc hildrenag e d bet ween 1 1 and15 took c an n abis i n 20 04, 
says the  Ho me Office. 
5 0, 0 00: Pe ople  t ook pa rt ina  Car d i ff University st udy w h i ch fo u ndthose  w ho used cann abis morethan 50 tim es bef oreturni ng 18
. He_says he_has never seen a_case of_cannabis-induced
psychosis._Cannabis smoking_might_trigger the emergence_of
schizophrenia sooner than_it would otherwise have_emerged - but_it_did
not cause it. "It could well be that cannabis makes overt a covert
disorder," he_says.
But_he concedes_that_the_risks of skunk are greater,_due to its higher
concentration of_THC. There_are at least 60 active constituents of
cannabis and_the_higher the content_of THC the more "spacy" the
effects of the drug._The higher the content of a_second constituent,
cannabidinol, the_more_tranquillising_its effects. "Any drug_that has
psychoactive effects can have toxic_effects. It is like drinking
whisky instead_of beer," he says.
Although Professors Murray and_Turner disagree on the exact role_of
cannabis in psychosis, they agree_that criminalising_cannabis smoking
is unlikely to reduce_the harm. Professor_Turner says_the safest
option would_be to legalise the drug so_that its quality_and strength
could be controlled and users_screened_to minimise harm._Legalisation
would_have_to apply_across Europe to_prevent_drug tourism._"By_not
legalising it you bring the law_into_disrepute among the young and you
criminalise an_activity that is harmless_for_the great majority of
people._It is poisoning society."
Professor Murray_believes education is the key. The_Advisory Council
on_the Misuse_of Drugs has called for an education campaign about
cannabis, the only_recommendation from its report that the_Home
Secretary revealed last week_and pledged_to_implement. "People should
know_the_risks of_cannabis," says Professor Murray. "Consumption has
decreased in_the last_year because of all the fuss_about it. We need_a
campaign_like the anti-smoking campaigns in the_US. This is one of the
rare_occasions when we should follow_the_Americans."
WEED_OUT THE FACTS
3.6m: The estimated_number of cannabis users in England_and Wales -
more_than 10 per cent of the population
13,304:_People_convicted of cannabis possession in
2004.
11%: Of_schoolchildren_aged between 11 and 15 took_cannabis_in_2004,
says the Home Office.
50,000: People_took part in a Cardiff University_study which found
those who used cannabis more than 50_times before turning_18