Bradford meeting told rising cannabis-vape use is a “threat to the younger generation”

Key points

• Issue raised: rising cannabis-vape use described as a threat to young people in Bradford

• Enforcement find: raid at Allerton Off Licence uncovered “a box of suspected vapes containing pure cannabis” and illegal cigarettes

• School incidents: ambulances reportedly called after children used the vapes in playgrounds

• Outcome: the Saffron Drive shop lost its alcohol licence

• Risk notes: some vapes contained traces of Spice; Forward Leeds warns of overdose risk

2Firsts, December 31, 2025 – According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a meeting was told that the rising use of cannabis vapes is a “threat to the younger generation” in Bradford.

E-cigarettes containing THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis, are illegal for recreational purposes but have been found on sale in the district.

Bradford Council said a recent raid of Allerton Off Licence found “a box of suspected vapes containing pure cannabis”, along with illegal cigarettes.

West Yorkshire Police and officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards discussed the use of the product during a recent licensing meeting, the report said.

Adele Woodward, of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, told the meeting ambulances had been called to schools after children had used the vapes in the playground.

Discussing the use of liquid THC, she said it was appealing to children because it is odourless and is seen as an alternative to cannabis because it can be used anywhere. She said the products are relatively new and have become a concern due to the hospitalisation of youths who have taken them in some areas.

She said cannabis vapes “seem to be on the rise and a threat to the younger generation” and said some contained traces of Spice.

The shop on Saffron Drive, described as “a hub for criminality” by a police officer, was stripped of its alcohol licence.

Forward Leeds said on its website that vaping THC can seem more “low-key” than smoking, so users may not realise how much they are consuming. It said, “These can be really dangerous and even lead to overdose.”

Image source: BBC