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Anti-drugs drive warns cannabis still illegal
1/12/2002
POLICE in North Manchester have launched a fact finding campaign on drugs among the Asian community.
They hope to find out how serious a problem drug abuse is with a view to getting more Asian users to seek help.
Said campaign organiser Sergeant David Gloster: "The perception is that a higher proportion of ethnic minority community people receive jail sentences for drug offence than whites and that Asian and black communities used agencies that can tackle drug abuse less than average. We want to find out if this is the case and then seek way of helping to tackle the problem."
Part of the campaign involves warning youngsters over cannabis. Said Sgt Gloster: "There has definitely been a mixed message picked up over this. Many kinds now believe it is legal to smoke cannabis. We've even had youngsters blowing cannabis smoke in the faces of officers believing they will not be arrested.
"This is not the case. The Home Secretary has said he would like to see cannabis re-classified from a class B drug because it is not as dangerous as other class B drugs like amphetamines or pethedine. But it is still a dangerous drug. You only have to visit mental wards to see what damage it can do and even when re-classified it will still be an illegal drug."
The campaign started with a visit to a Sikh temple where officers, including North Manchester police commander, Chief Superintendent Tony Kane, discussed drugs policy and enjoyed a meal.
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