Moray reports highest rise in use of cannabis by schoolchildren

Cannabis cases in Moray schools jump from zero to ten
Cannabis cases in Moray schools jump from zero to ten

A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER is warning of a ‘cannabis epidemic’ in Scotland’s schools – and citing Moray as the region reporting the highest number of cases.

According to a report in the Scotland on Sunday children as young as 12-years-old have been caught smoking cannabis at school – while others of the same age have been caught selling the drug to their classmates.

Schools have reported pupils falling ill after being given the drug by other children, while figures from the Scottish Government have shown the number of pupils suspended from school for drug use has risen by almost three-quarters in the last two years.

The newspaper adds that their investigations revealed that while some drug use cases in schools relate to ‘legal highs’ the vast majority, around 80%, indicate the sale and use of cannabis.

Of those local authorities who responded to a Freedom of Information request, Moray Council revealed Scotland’s largest increase in cannabis cases. Moray had no such cases between 2011 and 2013 – but reported ten in the last school year.

The study has been published just a week after Police Scotland revealed they had decided to let cannabis users off with a warning instead of a charge.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have to reduce the numbers of people who use drugs and particularly make sure that our children and young people are protected from the dangers.”

While the figures revealed by Moray were higher than any other who responded to the FOI request, it should be noted that Moray Council were one of just six from 32 councils who provided the information requested by the newspaper.