Cannabis supply to young people is largely through social networks and friendship groups rather than through overtly criminal drug markets. This is according to a new study from the Institute for Criminal Policy Research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Just over 2.5 million young people (16-24) in England and Wales have used cannabis with an average starting age of 14. Yet how young people access and use the drug has rarely been considered in the UK. Scant research has been conducted into how the criminal justice or education systems deal with young people caught supplying or brokering cannabis - helping other access the drug but not for profit.
The report - Cannabis Supply and Young People: "It's a social thing" - provides a snapshot of how young people in a large city and rural villages obtain cannabis. Researchers found that nearly all of the 182 young cannabis users interviewed were introduced to the drug by friends; used the drug with friends; and accessed the drug through friends. Only 6% had bought the drug from an unknown seller so most of them were insulated or distanced from overtly criminal drug markets.
Nearly all interviewees reported cannabis to be 'very easy' or 'fairly easy' to buy. Over three-quarters stated that they could acquire cannabis in less than an hour. 'Chipping in' and sharing cannabis with friends to make it more affordable was a common way of purchasing the drug for 70% of those interviewed. Of the sample, 45% reported involvement in cannabis transactions but they did not generally perceive themselves as dealers. Some, however, conceded that they could be seen as such by others. Most of the young people were aware that they would be arrested if they were caught selling cannabis and over three-quarters knew that there was no difference in sanctions between social and commercial supply.
Over half had taken cannabis into their school or college and slightly less than half had used cannabis there at some point. However, only a minority did this on a regular basis and the report authors found that the use of cannabis in school was unusual. While school drug policies they examined were often found to be consistent with national guidelines, sanctions for drug incidences varied across different schools.
Amongst those interviewed, 45% had either sold cannabis or brokered access to the drug without making a profit - nearly always to friends and acquaintances. They did not generally perceive themselves as dealers although they conceded that they could be seen as such by others and by the criminal justice system.
Professor Mike Hough, Director of the Institute of Criminal Policy Research said: "While the public stereotype of the drug dealer may be of an adult stranger 'pushing' drugs to young people, in the case of cannabis, this is very rarely the case. Most young people get their cannabis from other young people – often without a profit being made."
