§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to assess the research carried out by Professor Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry on the causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia. [159288]
§ Caroline FlintThe Home Secretary has not asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of drugs (ACMD) to formally assess research carried out by Professor Robin Murray. Much of the research carried out by Professor Robin Murray was known to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) at the time it was producing its report on cannabis. The ACMD felt the research did not conclusively prove a causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia. The ACMD feel any new evidence produced since its cannabis report does not affect the overall weight of evidence or their conclusions that cannabis while still harmful, is less harmful than other drugs in Class B.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons evaluation of the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign is only being conducted among 14 to 17-year-olds; [159307]
(2) which agencies bid for the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign. [159308]
§ Caroline FlintIt is important to focus our evaluation of the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign on 14 to 17-year-olds because they represent the priority audience for the Government in our overall aim to reduce drug misuse among young people. It is particularly important that under 18s understand the law because they will be arrested if found in possession of cannabis.
The agency 'Mother', which is the Home Office's incumbant agency for the drugs education campaign, FRANK, was retained for the reclassification of the cannabis campaign aimed at persons under 18. They had participated in a full competitive pitch through the COI's roster of preferred providers and had been awarded a contract in October 2002.
The joint Home Office Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) advertising campaign aimed at adults was commissioned through ACPO and was based on proposals they had developed with their own agency.