Alarming contamination levels in illegal street cannabis within the North East, according to a study
The report is calling for stronger public health campaigns
A public health campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal cannabis in the North East.
A University led study has found alarming contamination levels in the illegal drug, posing serious health risks to those using the drug to manage medical conditions.
The examined samples, which were seized by Northumbria police, showed that 90% of them contained dangerous substances such as mould and lead.
Dr Oliver Sutcliffe, from Manchester Met University and who carried out the research, said: "The headline finding was basically that 90% of the samples that we tested had moulds and fungus associated with them, which has a significant health risk in terms of potential respiratory diseases and things like that.
"What these findings seem to highlight is that a wider conversation and an understanding of potentially what you may be taking, if you are taking illegal cannabis, and understanding the dangers and the health risks that this report has highlighted very starkly.
"Talking through those issues and then being able to be pointed in the right direction towards those experts and those people that can actually provide the legal and also the right responses and support."
The findings are believed to reflect a broader trend across the UK, highlighting the widespread dangers associated with unregulated cannabis use.
The report is calling for stronger public health campaigns, enhanced enforcement measures, and increased support for legal medical cannabis programmes to help mitigate the growing public health crisis caused by illegal cannabis in the UK.