By Brian Allison, local government reporter

THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug against expert advice sends out the wrong message, especially to young people, a Dundee drugs worker has claimed.

Steve Dalton, lead officer for the Dundee Drug and Alcohol Team, said the decision must be very confusing for the public.

The team is based in the city council’s social work department and involves representatives from a number of agencies including the local authority, the health service, police, the voluntary sector and the Tayside Community Justice Authority.

“In Dundee we treat the issue of any drug misuse very seriously,” he said. “We have a range of education, counselling and support programmes for cannabis users.”

Mr Dalton said he was surprised the Government decided to ignore the expert panel. “I wonder what message that sends out to the public, especially young people.”

Having changed the classification of cannabis in 2004 and deciding to change it again made it look as if people in authority were not sure about the drug.

“The person in the street must by very confused; we need a much greater degree of clarity about this,” he said.

“If the Government is choosing to ignore the advice of experts what does that say to young people about how they should relate to expert advice, not just about drugs but about other things as well.

“This causes a degree of angst among drug workers who are doing their best to help people with complex problems.”

Inspector Wendy Symington, force drugs co-ordinator with Tayside Police, said, “Regardless of the classification of cannabis, Tayside Police will continue to deal with any breach of the law relating to this substance.

“Reclassification will not change our approach to tackling the menace of drugs on the street. We have had a lot of recent success identifying and closing down cannabis factories across Tayside and we will continue to target this threat.

“As with all drugs there are health risks associated with taking them and cannabis is no exception.

“Smoking the drug is the most common way of taking it and this can lead to potentially similar or increased risks as smoking tobacco. Cannabis also impairs concentration and co-ordination and this danger increases when alcohol is consumed alongside.”

Inspector Symington said of cannabis factories, “It is important that members of the public are vigilant and report any obvious signs that a factory may be operating within their street,” she said.

“Some of the things to look out for would be windows permanently covered, people coming and going from the premises at all times of the day and night, a smell coming from the property or a noise from equipment within the premises.”