HL Deb 02 February 2004 vol 656 cc85-6WA
Lord Taylor of Warwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they fully researched the alleged link between the use of cannabis and mental illness before deciding to reclassify the drug from class B to class C. [HL867]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Government's decision to seek to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was taken in the light of the advice we received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the harmfulness of cannabis relative to that of other drugs in class B. That advice was based upon a wide-ranging review of the available research.

The advisory council considered in some depth possible links with mental illness, and concluded that a clear causal link between cannabis use and the development of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, has not been established. However, cannabis use can unquestionably worsen a mental illness which already exists. We continue to monitor the situation carefully.