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Global drugs organization calls for worldwide act as internet ... - protector.co.uk

Global drugs corpse calls for worldwide battle as internet ... - protector.co.uk It calls for governments to take stronger measures against drugs, in particular cannabis. The chemicals used to make amphetamines, methamphetamines and MDMA (ecstasy) are being obtained illicitly in large quantities. Traffickers are placing orders with legitimate trading companies and using falsified authorisations to import pharmaceuticals into countries where controls are lax. African countries are said to have become increasingly involved in the production and trade of such drugs."The internet is a major problem," said professor Hamid Ghodse, the board's president. Italy, France and Denmark have the next highest rates of use with Bulgaria, Malta and Romania the least. Schoolchildren aged 15-16 in the UK top the list for use of cannabis with 44% having tried it once. France, Spain, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Belgium are the other countries where schoolchildren have high rates of use. The countries where there is least use among schoolchildren are Greece, Cyprus and Romania. However, cannabis use among all schoolchildren in England dropped from 13% to 9% between 2001 and 2007.Ghodse said that many European countries were sending the wrong message on cannabis, by not treating it seriously. One new development had been the re-emergence of Afghan cannabis, a major type used in the 1960s and 70s. The report suggests that "cannabis cultivation has increased as this crop has become more lucrative". The board urges the Afghan government to "give priority to stopping this alarming trend and to provide farmers with sustainable options of legitimate livelihood".Among other findings are that Canada has beome a major producer of ecstasy, using chemicals smuggled from China. Canadian versions of the drug have been found in Australia and Japan. Amphetamines have become popular in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. West Africa is seen as an important transit and stockpiling area for cocaine consignments from Latin America destined for Europe. Other conclusions are that Colombia remains the world's largest producer of coca leaf, despite extensive and US-funded eradication efforts, and illicit cultivation there has increased by 27%. Colombia accounts for 55% of the total area under illicit cultivation in South America, followed by Peru (29%) and Bolivia (16%). Latin America has seen an increase in "date rape" drugs, according to the report. It appeared in the Guardian on Thursday 19 February 2009 on p18 of the International section. It was last updated at 00.05 GMT on Thursday 19 February 2009. Alternate Energy