But the UK governments official line on cannabis, including its tales of woe regarding so called cannabis psychosis cases rising as a result of stronger strains of cannabis, goes against a raft of medical evidence which is widely available today.

For instance one report undertaken at the Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu in 2005 found that the onset of schizotypal symptoms generally precedes the onset of cannabis use. The findings do not support a causal link between cannabis use and schizotypal traits. (SOURCE )

To further confound the issue boffins in Germany (again in 2005) started to test cannabis as a possible treatment for schizophrenia. Yes you read it right.

According to the Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Germany, the endogenous cannabinoid system has recently been shown of particular importance in the pathophysiology of acute schizophrenia. It interacts with various neurotransmitter systems in the central nervous system including the dopaminergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic system leaving researchers of the opinion there is some experimental and clinical evidence that other herbal cannabinoid compounds may have antipsychotic properties.

Based on these confounders the researchers designed a four week, double-blind, controlled clinical trial on the effects of purified cannabidiol, a major compound of herbal cannabis, in acute schizophrenia and schizophreniform psychosis compared to the antipsychotic "Amisulpride".

The antipsychotic properties of both drugs were the primary target of the study. Furthermore, side-effects and anxiolytic capabilities of both treatment strategies were investigated.

Cannabidiol significantly reduced psychopathological symptoms of acute psychosis after both, week two and four, when compared to the initial status. There was no statistical difference of this effect to the control condition. In contrast, Cannabidiol revealed significantly less side effects when compared to amisulpride.

This phase II clinical trial on the effects of Cannabidiol in acute schizophrenia and schizophreniform psychosis raises evidence for its antipsychotic properties that exceeds by far the evidence from open observations available up to now. Furthermore, it raises evidence that the endogenous cannabinoid system may provide a valid target in the search for new treatments for schizophrenia. (SOURCE )

Meanwhile in a report published in Holland in 2004 a group of Dutch scientists say that there is no proof that cannabis induces schizophrenia.

The scientists say the drug only seems to affect people who are genetically predisposed to getting schizophrenia (meaning they will get it anyway).

As schizophrenia manifests itself during adolescence, and many people start taking cannabis during adolescence - it is just coincidence that some people develop the mental illness soon after they start taking the drug. (SOURCE )

The authors of the report wrote "It is therefore advisable that youngsters with a family history of schizophrenia and patients with a schizophrenic disorder be discouraged from using cannabis."

A lesson in drug education Mr Coaker et al would do well to 'take a leaf' from.

Canna Zine comment
So you see there is literally reams of research material available which not only disproves the governments theories regarding "super-strong" skunk cannabis, it actually proves the medical worth of the class C drug.

But for obvious reasons, this is material the Labour government would really rather you never got to see.