The supply of drugs to young people is an emotive subject with discussion rarely referring to actual evidence, which is in any case scarce. What evidence exists shows that many young people gain access to drugs through older brothers and sisters, through friends and friends of friends, so-called ‘social supply’ networks.

This study interviewed 182 young people aged 11–19, all of whom had used cannabis and/or been involved in cannabis transactions in recent months. This group is unlikely to be representative of young people in general, so the report presents a snapshot view.

The study looks at:
• How and where young people got hold of cannabis;
• What involvement, if any, they had in supplying cannabis to others;
• How young people paid for cannabis;
• Responses from schools and police to cannabis use among young people;
• Implications for legislation and enforcement guidelines around cannabis use, in particular the issue of ‘social supply’.