Mental illness in under-16s soared after cannabis laws were relaxed

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Over the past four years the cost to the NHS of anti-psychotic drugs for this age bracket has gone up by almost two thirds - from just under £1.7million in 2004 to £2.72million last year.

The price of the drugs has not risen much over that period, meaning a rising number of young patients is the reason for the cost increase.

The number of under-16s being treated for mental illness has shot up since the laws on cannabis were relaxed

The NHS figures are the latest indicator to suggest that downgrading cannabis from class B to class C in 2004 is linked to a sharp increase in psychosis among the young.

Reclassification meant that police were unlikely to arrest anyone caught with the drug.

James Brokenshire, the Tory MP who dug out the details, said: ‘These are shocking
figures and they suggest an increase in the prevalence of psychosis in the young.

He added: ‘The Government’s mixed messages on cannabis have caused real harm and we won’t know the full extent of the damage for years to come.’

In May Gordon Brown backed a move to make the drug class B once more because of evidence suggesting it is linked to schizophrenia and psychosis, and because strains of cannabis have become much stronger than those sold in the past.

Police chiefs, however, have indicated that they will ignore the more serious legal status of the drug and continue to allow many of those found in possession to go free. Youngsters are likely to bearrested only if caught on a series of occasions.