New figures reveal that cannabis use can result in mental illness.

The number of mental health-related hospital admissions that have been directly linked to cannabis use has increased by 85% since 1997, according to figures released by the Department of Health today.

The number of mental health-related hospital admissions that have been directly linked to cannabis use has increased by 85% since 1997, according to figures released by the Department of Health today. The figures were made available in response to a Parliamentary Question asked by Andrew Lansley MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire.

Mr Vara said:

"These figures offer proof, if proof were needed, that cannabis is not a 'harmless' drug. Nearly 1,000 people were admitted to hospital with mental health issues where the primary cause of their illness was directly linked to cannabis use.

"This is a damning indictment of this Government's position on drug laws. Charles Clarke MP, the previous Home Secretary, made the decision to downgrade cannabis from a class B to a class C drug. That decision gave the impression to many young and impressionable young people that cannabis was more or less 'safe'.

"The Government needs to reverse its policy on this vitally important issue and reclassify cannabis as a class B drug. They should then enforce that decision accordingly."