'Children as young as 12 smoking cannabis'

Children as young as 12 years old are smoking cannabis outside Telford schools, a council meeting has heard.

It seemed to be "common around the place" to smoke cannabis and vape outside of schools and that it was "almost accepted," Councillor Paul Thomas told a heath and wellbeing board meeting.

"My perception everywhere I go is there is an increasing number of children – and I mean children, probably 12 years of age maybe even younger, vaping," Thomas said.

Telford and Wrekin Council's director of public health confirmed the issue of cannabis use was being picked up by school nurses and has been raised at recent health meetings.

Conservative councillor Thomas, who represents Priorslee, said the increase in the number of children vaping meant it was his perception, supported by the local neighbourhood policing team, that there was an increase in numbers of youngsters smoking cannabis.

"We do recognise the problem. It is something that we have picked up particularly at some of our health meetings in the last week," Helen Onions, the council's director of public health said.

"It is something we've seen and experienced ourselves and that we have heard through our school nursing service."

She added drug and alcohol work, including the recovery service "do a lot of work in schools, but there is a lot more work to do.

Councillors were told that vaping will not be banned but the authority is acting to focus on the issue.

A recent study by public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said that 1.1m children aged 11-17 had tried vaping in 2026 in Great Britain.

The charity said that "concerns were raised" as ever smoking among young people increased from 14% in 2023 to 21% in 2025.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

School children using vapes laced with drugs like Spice

Town has higher figures of child cannabis use

Council warns students over cannabis parties

Local Democracy Reporting Service