A single cannabis joint could damage the lungs as much as smoking up to five tobacco cigarettes one after another, according to research published in the Journal, Thorax.

Source articles on BBC News, The Guardian

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has called for the law to be changed so that penalties could be imposed on all drug-impaired drivers.

Source articles on The Guardian, see also related articles on BBC News, and The Independent

Cannabis users are 40% more likely than non-users to suffer a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, according to research published in the Lancet.

Source article on BBC News, The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, and The Times

The UK government has launched what it says is the country's biggest public consultation on tackling drugs.

Source article on BBC News

The Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Graeme Pearson, has called for a radical shake-up in drugs education in schools.

Source article on BBC News

Tom Wood, Chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams comments on current issues in the field of combating substance misuse in Scotland.

Source article on Evening News

Media comment on release of statistics from the Scottish Executive on methadone treatment for substance misuse in Scotland's community.

Source articles on Scotland on Sunday, BBC News, Evening News

Graeme Pearson, Director General of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, has said cannabis factory raids north of the Border had gone from none to 66 in the space of 12 months, and warned that society faced much more severe problems as a result of cannabis use, including the increased strength of the drug. He also revealed that many people were working in the factories in conditions similar to "slavery".

Source articles on Scotland on Sunday, BBC News

One in three thieves taken to Edinburgh City's St. Leonard's police station have tested positive for drugs and have been offered treatment as part of a pilot project funded by the Scottish Executive.

Source article on Evening News

Heroin worth £100,000 has been seized by Fife Constabulary following an operation in the Ballingry area. Also, a £500,000 drugs haul of heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy and cannabis resin was seized by police officers in a raid on a car in Central Scotland.

Source article on BBC News, see also BBC News (Central Scotland)

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has announced plans to consult with the public on the Government's strategy for tackling drugs.

Source article on 10 Downing Street

The laws covering cannabis could be toughened up, Gordon Brown has said.

Source article on BBC News

Announcement made yesterday on a new European Commission proposal to strengthen control of the psychoactive substance, 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP).

Source article on Europa

The number of cannabis plants seized in drugs raids by Scottish police forces has nearly doubled in the past six years, it was revealed yesterday.

Source article on The Herald