“Sending out messages”
Posted by helensello on April 3, 2008
The BBC is reporting that the ACMD is going to recommend that cannabis should not be moved to Class B. I’m glad – I dont beleive that the classification A B or C gives out any information about the specific risks of its use.
So how should messages of potential risk, particularly risks of mental illness for young and vulnerable people, be “sent”?
I support the approach of RETHINK – “The Government to deliver on the massive public education programme promised in 2006 and stop being distracted by the reclassification issue.”
But more I would like campaigns about harm minimisation be led by adult cannabis users. Why – because they are more likely to be believed than governments. I dont think many adults – whether cannabis users or not – want children and teens to use it. We should be working together to discourage them from doing so. And support those with a mental illness who want to give up or cut down their cannabis use.
Sadly, I suspect that the concept of harm minimisation is too complicated for many journalists and they will report the decision to leave it at C as an encouragement to use it. It is not.
