Psychiatrists may support legalisation of cannabis

AN influential mental health body is to review its opposition to the legalisation of cannabis.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is a staunch opponent of any move to decriminalise the drug – and has issued repeated warnings over the years about the links between cannabis and mental problems.

As recently as June, Dr Adrian James, registrar of the college, warned of the ‘disastrous consequences’ of loosening rules on the drug.

‘As mental health doctors, we can say with absolute certainty that cannabis carries severe risks,’ he said. ‘The average cannabis user is around twice as likely as a non-user to develop a psychotic disorder.’

But the college is now to review its position because of arguments that legalising cannabis would give the Government the power both to regulate its strength and to generate tax from its sale.

Over the summer, there was pressure on the Government to relax the laws on cannabis to permit its use for medical treatment, particularly to treat epilepsy.

The college is setting up a panel to review current evidence from countries where the drug is already legal. Dr James, who will

‘It is so harmful. It causes psychosis’

chair the panel, said it would start with an ‘open mind’ and review the research.

He stressed that the college may decide not to change its position – and at this stage is only reviewing its opposition to decriminalisation.

Dr James said he remained concerned about the potential risks, but he recognised the arguments that decriminalisation could prevent users becoming caught up in the criminal justice system.

‘Our official view is that we are concerned about the health risks and we are against legalisation... on that basis, but there may be arguments that outweigh the psychiatric argument,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

The panel will also review the medical use of cannabis, which it supports as a therapy for certain conditions if it has been approved by the watchdog NICE.

Mary Brett, chairman of Cannabis Skunk Sense, a drugs prevention charity, said the college is ‘totally ludicrous’ to review its stance on the issue, saying: ‘Cannabis is so harmful. It causes psychosis.’

She added that the college is ‘very shortsighted’ if it thinks that government regulation of the drug will stop underage users getting hold of cannabis.