29 Oct 09
The row over the reclassification of cannabis has been reignited after the government's chief drug adviser accused ministers of "devaluing" the evidence.
Professor David Nutt, of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, says it does not cause major health issues.
He accused ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith of "devaluing" scientific research. The Home Office said his view did not reflect that of the government.
In 2004 cannabis went from class B to C. In 2008, Ms Smith returned it to B.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Prof Nutt's views are his own."
He added: "The government is clear: we are determined to crack down on all illegal substances and minimise their harm to health and society as a whole."
It comes after Prof Nutt used a lecture at King's College in London and briefing paper to attack what he called the "artificial" separation of alcohol and tobacco from illegal drugs.
A spokesman for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs said Prof Nutt spoke as an academic, and not for the council.
The professor said smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness, and claimed those who advocated moving ecstasy into Class B from Class A had "won the intellectual argument".
Public concern over the links between high-strength cannabis, known as skunk, and mental illness led the government to reclassify cannabis to Class B from C last year.
From the BBC, rest of it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/8331038.stm
Let's say an independent enquiry, commissioned by the government, spent 5 years and $100 million, compiling findings and reaching certain conclusions.
Then, supposing the government minister seriously distorted or misrepresented those findings for political reasons, and in so doing discreditted or sidelined the politically inconvenient report.
How about a spell in gaol for the politicians involved - with the 'wasted $100 million' as a benchmark for the seriousness of the deliberate self-interest-driven 'intellectual corruption' and the resulting vast and completely avoidable waste of taxpayers' money?
Would there be freedom of speech issues? Or would this be a way of keeping our rulers honest?
29 Oct 09
Originally posted by FMFb,c,b,c Are these people suffering from some kind of psychosis? Dope smokers have enough indecision in their lives without the supposed experts being "Nutts" too.
[b]The row over the reclassification of cannabis has been reignited after the government's chief drug adviser accused ministers of "devaluing" the evidence.
[quote]Professor David Nutt, of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, says it does not cause major health issues.
He accused ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith of "devaluing" scientific research ...[text shortened]... om of speech issues? Or would this be a way of keeping our rulers honest?[/b]
If you like it, smoke it, if you don't, don't. If you want to be really healthy, probably best avoid it. Where's my 100 million?
29 Oct 09
Originally posted by FMFI have a friend who had to be escorted from the cinema after just that. He was watching Toy Story, and when the little three-eyed aliens that worship 'the claw, the claw' came on, he simply couldn't contain himself. He had to be helped from the floor, which he was pounding with his fists, and taken outside for a breather. (At least it was a late-ish showing, so the cinema wasn't populated by little children).
Oh man. I've gotten into bad trouble doing that.
Drugs are bad, mkay?
29 Oct 09
Originally posted by FMFoh well, it doesn't really matter what marijuana's classification is, people are still going to use it.
[b]The row over the reclassification of cannabis has been reignited after the government's chief drug adviser accused ministers of "devaluing" the evidence.
[quote]Professor David Nutt, of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, says it does not cause major health issues.
He accused ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith of "devaluing" scientific research ...[text shortened]... om of speech issues? Or would this be a way of keeping our rulers honest?[/b]
However, I think it is unacceptable the way the government keeps interfering with people's lives with that lame "we want what is good for you" stance, its about time they cut the crap and just legalize it.
29 Oct 09
Originally posted by DrKFDrugs are bad, mkay?
I have a friend who had to be escorted from the cinema after just that. He was watching Toy Story, and when the little three-eyed aliens that worship 'the claw, the claw' came on, he simply couldn't contain himself. He had to be helped from the floor, which he was pounding with his fists, and taken outside for a breather. (At least it was a late-ish showing, so the cinema wasn't populated by little children).
Drugs are bad, mkay?
shall we ban alcohol because of the mess caused by binge-drinkers as well?
shall we punish the majority of pot smokers (who are not doing any harm to anyone) because of the activities of a few irresponsible individuals?
29 Oct 09
Originally posted by DrKFAnybody who freaks out on marijuana, especially during Toy Story, has greater issues to contend with than drugs abuse.
I have a friend who had to be escorted from the cinema after just that. He was watching Toy Story, and when the little three-eyed aliens that worship 'the claw, the claw' came on, he simply couldn't contain himself. He had to be helped from the floor, which he was pounding with his fists, and taken outside for a breather. (At least it was a late-ish showing, so the cinema wasn't populated by little children).
Drugs are bad, mkay?
29 Oct 09
Originally posted by DrKFI had much the same reaction to that scene without drugs. Luckily I was at home. Occasionally I still find myself repeatedly murmuring those dread syllables.
I have a friend who had to be escorted from the cinema after just that. He was watching Toy Story, and when the little three-eyed aliens that worship 'the claw, the claw' came on, he simply couldn't contain himself. He had to be helped from the floor, which he was pounding with his fists, and taken outside for a breather. (At least it was a late-ish showing, so the cinema wasn't populated by little children).
Drugs are bad, mkay?
30 Oct 09
Originally posted by FMFFirst you would have to create a diversion to suspend societies disbelief, that at the heart of the matter, the world and its bureacracies are overrun by corrupt evil minnions, hell bent on wreaking as much havoc with common sense and fairness, that our limited news media will alllow.
How about a spell in gaol for the politicians involved - with the 'wasted $100 million' as a benchmark for the seriousness of the deliberate self-interest-driven 'intellectual corruption' and the resulting vast and completely avoidable waste of taxpayers' money? ...Would there be freedom of speech issues? Or would this be a way of keeping our rulers honest?