​Gavin And Stacey Criticised For Pushing Message That Cannabis Use Is ‘Perfectly Okay’

A Gavin and Stacey viewer has criticised the programme, suggesting it pushed a message that cannabis use is 'perfectly okay' during a scene from the Christmas special that featured characters Pam, Dawn, Mick and Pete.

In the Christmas episode, Dawn comes to Pam distraught at the belief that Pete is a 'drug addict', after finding a joint in the glove compartment of their car.

Pam assures her friend that it's 'a bit of spliff', telling her: "Me and Mick used to smoke it all the time before Gavin was born. Now and again. It doesn't make us junkies."

Mick also jokes: "A bit of weed. It's hardly Breaking Bad."

Pete explains he'd been given the joint as a Secret Santa present at work, telling the room: "I was actually quite touched that they included me, but my wife thinks that I have turned into Zammo from Grange Hill."

Gavin and Smithy later find the foursome dancing around the living room to reggae music, giggling as they continue to smoke the joint together.

BBC

However, Lord Nicholas Monson has spoken out about the scene, condemning it for trivialising cannabis use.

Monson, whose son Rupert took his own life in January 2017 after developing drug-induced psychosis, told The Daily Mail: "With much justification, the BBC prides itself as a beacon of truth but here it has a blind spot.

"Knowledge of the potential damage of modern cannabis is hardly obscure. What then is it doing, pushing a strong subliminal message that cannabis is perfectly okay and those who fear it might be otherwise are fair game for mockery?

BBC

"Our tragedy is not unique. Super-strong cannabis is mentally damaging, it is thought, for about one in nine regular users. Because of developing brain issues before the age of 25, the young are even more susceptible to its injurious effects."

Monson's son had become addicted to 'skunk', a potent type of the Class B drug.

The lord warned that cannabis smoked today tends to be stronger than products used in the past, which many don't realise.

Mary Brett, of campaign group Cannabis Skunk Sense, added: "It is very disheartening and actually frightening when television people think it's funny to smoke cannabis."

The BBC has declined to comment.

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, gavin and stacey, Drugs

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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