violence that is occurring in the community, The Royal Gazette has been told.

The drug, which many teenagers and adults use regularly, is in scarce supply because the cruise ship season has ended.

During the summer months the cruise ships are a major way that illegal drugs enter the Island.

But a concerted effort on the part of Police and Customs officers has led to the arrest and conviction of several cruise workers who were caught importing and possessing illegal drugs.

One regular user who spoke to the The Royal Gazette on the condition that his name not be used, said many of his friends were experiencing withdrawal because they cannot get the drug.

"I know there is some (cannabis) out there somewhere, but it's scarce,'' he said. "It usually goes in cycles whenever the cruise ships stop coming, but this year has been particularly bad.'' As a result, the man said that most of his friends were using alcohol to soften the effect of the withdrawal while others were experimenting with crack cocaine in an effort to get a high.

Moreover, the man said that cannabis was a social drug that formed an important part of the weekend ritual of going out with friends. "We buy our bags and share them and have a smoke before we go out and while we are at the dance. Going out without our weed just is not the same.'' Consequently, the man said that when the guys went out there was already a level of frustration present because no one in the group was able to purchase any cannabis.

And this made it even easier for fights to break out over the silliest of things because "guys heads are already tight.'' Last year Addiction Services counsellor Bryant Richards said that there were more Bermudians being treated in St. Brendan's Hospital for psychosis induced by consistent use of more potent strains of marijuana.