Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 October 2007. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 8 October 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Cannabis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research studies the Government have (a) undertaken, (b) commissioned and (c) reviewed into the impact of the 2004 reclassification of cannabis on (i) levels of cannabis use and (ii) levels of harm from cannabis use; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: In 2005 the Government asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to carry out a review of the classification of cannabis which took into account the harms from cannabis use on both physical and mental health, and the levels of cannabis use following reclassification. The evidence it reviewed is set out in Annex 4 of its Report, Further consideration of the classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, together with prevalence data extracted from the British Crime Survey.

Secondary information