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EASTERN EYE February 6, 2009
6
Asians urged to
join donor list
‘Confused’ youngsters face
jail over new dope laws
DRUG experts are warning that an
alarming lack of awareness among
young Asians about the new cannabis
laws could land many more in prison.
The drug was upgraded from Class C to
Class B last week, making it second only to
harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Recent research linked cannabis with men-
tal illness, which led to the reclassification.
Those found using cannabis now will ini-
tially get a warning, then an £80 fine and on
a third offence could face imprisonment.
Drug awareness campaigners say urgent
action is needed among young Asians. They
warn the Asian prison population could roc-
ket if communities are not educated about
the change. Drugs accounted for 57 per cent
of stop and searches for British Asians com-
pared with 40 per cent for whites in 2006/07,
according to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
It also says 11 per cent of the prison popu-
lation is Muslim with many of those convict-
ed for drug offences. Overall, about seven per
cent of the prison population are Asian.
Yaser Mir is a senior researcher for the
University of Central Lancashire which has
studied drug use among young British Asians.
He told Eastern Eye: “We could see an in-
crease in people being criminalised as can-
nabis will be more seriously treated.
“There is a lack of education, especially
amongst youths, who are socially excluded
and vulnerable. There needs to be a focus on
targeted work for Asian youths and their
families. They are already confused over
cannabis. Some youngsters think it is legal.”
Tohel Ahmed, manager of east London
drug clinic Nafas, says cannabis is the most
popular drug among young Asians.
“There was confusion before if you were
found in possession. They knew it was illegal
but the community was unsure about the
punishment. Different (police) forces priori-
tise cannabis differently depending on local
needs. There will be an imbalance, and th