The new findings prompted a national Sunday newspaper to this week climbdown from its 10-year campaign to have cannabis legalised. The Independent on Sunday ran a front page article this weekend under the headline “Cannabis: An Apology”, saying that if the facts about cannabis had been known when the paper launched the campaign, it would never have fought for it to be legalised. The destruction of seven cannabis factories unearthed on Merseyside in recent weeks means millions of pounds of the drug has been taken of the region’s streets. Organised gangs are now setting up business as a way of cultivating huge profits from cannabis. They buy or rent innocuous-looking houses in residential streets, strip them down to make more growing room and transform them into an illegal production line. Mr Hogan-Howe said: “In the 1960s, the overwhelming majority of cannabis was grown in Morocco. It was then illegally imported to the UK. “Home-grown production at the time was amateurish, small scale and of low potency. Now we are seeing relatively small scale but efficient production of plants in the UK.” Mental health charity Rethink have been campaigning for more education for youngsters about the effects of cannabis. Director of Public Affairs Paul Corry said: “Cannabis is not a risk-free drug. For a significant minority of people it is a trigger for developing a severe long-term mental illness like schizophrenia. “We have called on the government to honour its pledge for a £1m health campaign to take the risk message into schools and local communities. “The government must honour its promises so that young people are aware of the true risks of cannabis. “Current education guidance does not cover the mental health effects of cannabis, stating only that ‘no clear causal link has been proven’. Young people with experience of mental illness and cannabis use should deliver this education. Young people are far more likely to listen to their peers.” benrossington@liverpoolecho.co.uk ECHO Essentials PARENTS can spot if their child is smoking cannabis by looking out for the following indicators: * Secretive behaviour. * Loss of interest in usual activities. * Unusual restlessness or sleepiness. * Unexpected or uncharacteristic changes of mood and behaviour. * Irritable, aggressive behaviour. * Loss of appetite. * Unexplained need for cash; possibly stealing from bags and wallets left lying around the house. * Unusual smells or stains on clothes. Useful websites for parents concerned their children may be involved in taking cannabis are: www.mentalhealth.org.uk www.talktofrank.com www.marijuana-info.org
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