Bulk of cannabis users supplied by friends or family

The vast majority of cannabis users are being supplied by family and friends, a cross-border study revealed today.

There has also been an upsurge in the amount of the drug being grown in Ireland and the North.

A study on the habits of users north and south found 30% of the cannabis smoked in the North is homegrown – almost double the amount in Ireland.

The second All-Ireland Drugs Prevalence Survey also found users were becoming more concerned about the health risks from cannabis.

Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, warned users may be worried about using stronger varieties, known as skunk.

“More people who have used the drug are attaching greater risk to taking it than in the previous survey which may have some relationship to the increase in herbal cannabis availability and consumption in the last number of years,” he said.

Dr Corrigan called for further studies on cannabis use including links to mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses.

John Curran, junior minister with repsonsibility for the drugs strategy, welcomed the findings.

“I am heartened to see the changes in attitudes to cannabis use and that people are becoming increasingly aware of risk associated with taking cannabis,” Mr Curran said.

“However, only future surveys will confirm if this change is sustained.”

Figures revealed the extent of dealing among friends and family.

:: 44% were given cannabis by family or friend.

:: 28% shared the drug among friends.

:: 14% bought from a friend.

:: Only 6% bought from a dealer.

The experience in the North was similar.

:: 30% were given cannabis by family or friend.

:: 35% shared the drug among friends.

:: 18% bought from a friend.

:: Only 5% of users in the North bought from a dealer.

Other findings from the survey revealed one quarter of those who use cannabis use it almost every day.