July 7th People's Independent Inquiry Forum -> UK drugs policy

UK drugs policy, UK drugs policy

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indisguise

Posted: Jul 20 2008, 04:13 PM

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QUOTE

This volte-face on cannabis is iniquitous and ignorant

Jacqui Smith is making a terrible mistake by putting this soft drug in the same category as heroin and crack

All comments (25)

o Jeremy Sare
o guardian.co.uk,
o Sunday July 20, 2008

Last week the court of appeal overturned the convictions of three people working in a business selling hydroponic growing equipment, on charges of "conspiracy to aid and abet the production of cannabis". You can be forgiven for not recognising this offence for one simple reason � it does not exist. However such was the anti-cannabis zeal of the judge in Derby presiding over the original case, he happily sent one of the men, David Kenning, to prison for nearly two years.

Cannabis is a certainly a harmful drug that can cause dependency and exacerbates existing mental health problems. But since David Blunkett's pragmatic decision in 2004 to regularise drug laws with the existing police practice of issuing warnings, the media has deliberately and wildly exaggerated the dangers of "weed". The government has abandoned its reason and thrown its lot in with hysterical and largely ignorant commentators. The figures used by the home secretary Jacqui Smith in May to justify "popular support" for a volte-face to class B concealed that 32% of the public support making it a class A drug alongside heroin and crack.

Such polls serve to underline the public's unqualified confusion about the drug classification system as a whole. Charles Clarke, when briefly home secretary, grasped this point when he commissioned a review of the whole ABC system. His successor John Reid dropped the review like a burning spliff, and there is no prospect of this rational approach being entertained by Jacqui Smith. In Jacqui's eyes "rational approach" reads as "soft on drugs". When she made her U-turn announcement she lent on the disconcerting coalition of support from the Daily Mail, Telegraph and the entire Conservative party. That alone should have told her something.

Also hidden in the statement was the bizarre and unworkable pledge to attack the "headshops" selling exotic cigarette papers and Bob Marley posters. Such is New Labour's new-found social orthodoxy, Jacqui Smith barked out the ministerial intention "to curtail the sale and promotion of cannabis paraphernalia" � and "where necessary shut the shops down". The sight of bongs, pipes and chillums for sale may offend Ms Smith's sensibilities but this has been shown by several acquittals in the court of appeal as no place for the law. And it is certainly not a justifiable use of scarce police resources.

The police have in the past seized cannabis paraphernalia but that was some years before Britain 's problematic drug using population had risen to its current figure of 350,000. There are several of these shops in Camden Town, north London, where there is also a severe crack problem. The government drug strategy since 1998 has been rightly aimed at tackling class A drugs as the overriding priority: cannabis policy is now skewing the strategy.

The police were not properly consulted about this latest crusade, and the Association of Chief Police Officers remains "sceptical" about the policy. A spokesman for the government-funded charity DrugScope said the new enforcement regime "would be unlikely to have any measurable impact on cannabis prevalence"._

Last week also saw the futile attempt to outlaw the sale of cannabis seeds. The government is looking kindly on the 10-minute rule bill sponsored by the Lib Dem MP Tom Brake to make possession of these seeds a serious criminal offence. Brake is worried about the proximity of a headshop in his constituency to a primary school although he could not show any corrupting influence. Again this is law based on outrage and not rational thinking. The MP Paul Flynn, a veteran drugs campaigner, politely pointed out that in making his case, Brake "did not give any evidence of harm".

The other problem in framing this law is cannabis seeds contain no traces of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. The government could outlaw all cannabis products but that would mean shutting down the multimillion-pound (legal) hemp business making oils, shampoos, maps, ropes and clothing. There are also several thousand multiple sclerosis sufferers who purchase seeds to grow plants solely for their own palliative care. They would all have to seek illegal supply but most buy over the net in any case.

Of course, this flurry of political activity on cannabis would be more understandable if the government were responding to a rising tide of consumption � but cannabis use, according to the British Crime Survey, has been falling since 1996.

"Wacky" Jacqui Smith's intentions on cannabis enforcement are certainly justifying the media hysteria about the drug. She herself admitted to using cannabis "a few times" at university but if she had been caught in possession of it, she would have a criminal record and would certainly not now be a MP, let alone home secretary. By January she will have re-introduced that iniquitous policy.

Guardian CiF

indisguise

Posted: Jul 20 2008, 04:15 PM

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Posts: 1,277
Member No.: 139
Joined: 15-August 06

QUOTE

Drug users risk benefit cuts

Jobcentre staff will be able to withhold cash and force claimants to attend treatment programmes

* Gaby Hinsliff, political editor
* The Observer,
* Sunday July 20, 2008

The unemployed will be forced to declare drug or heavy drinking habits when they apply for benefits and will have payments cut if they give misleading answers, under government proposals which were announced yesterday.

Probation officers, prison staff and the police will also be asked to share with Jobcentres any information they have about individuals' habits so that those deemed to have problem habits can be identified and compelled to seek treatment if necessary. Those who conceal drug use, or refuse to co-operate with treatment, face benefit cuts.

A leaked copy of the green paper to be published tomorrow by James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Secretary, suggests that the scheme could start with heroin and crack cocaine users before extending it to 'those dependent on cannabis and alcohol'.

But critics said the plans, which emerged just days ahead of the by-election in Glasgow East, could catch vast numbers of recreational drugs users whose habits were not a problem, while addicts whose benefits were cut would simply turn to petty crime. They also raised concerns about confidentiality.

'It does look as though government departments will swap information in order to ensure that sanctions are more rigorously applied, and we should all be worried by this,' said Adam Sampson, a director of the UK Drugs Commission. 'If you look at the research about who has taken drugs, that includes, statistically, you, me and most of the Cabinet. Once you open up these powers they could be applied to anybody.

'And who defines "problem" in this context? The pragmatic behaviour on the part of drug users will be to conceal, to evade and to lie.'

The proposals also risk a backlash from traditional Labour voters, three days before the by-election in a seat containing high proportions of benefit claimants and families on low incomes. However Purnell, who obtained clearance from the Labour campaign team before publishing it, is said to believe it will be popular among poorer voters who often have more draconian views on welfare cheats than the liberal middle classes.

The paper admits there are potential 'drawbacks' to the plan and its impact would need to be studied, since only half a per cent of those applying for the job seekers allowance every year were thought to be problem drug users.

But it says that 'making declaring drug use and taking steps [to conquer it] a condition of benefit is consistent with the obligations on those in receipt of welfare help', and would show the government recognised the link between addiction and unemployment.

It estimates there are up to 240,000 people in England on out of work benefits who are problem drug users, and that up to 7 per cent of incapacity benefit and job seekers allowance claimants are on drugs, although only just over 2 per cent are registered with Jobcentres as having drug problems.

The paper proposes legislation to require information from police drug tests to be passed on to Jobcentres - individuals arrested for certain offences in 23 police authorities may be tested for heroin, crack or cocaine use - along with information from courts about people on drug programmes and information from jails about prison leavers with drug habits. This could amount to up to 150,000 people.

Harry Fletcher, of the National Association of Probation Officers, said that forcing probation officers to disclose information about clients' drug use posed serious ethical dilemmas: 'The relationship between an offender and the probation officer would be based on trust, so that people would not give information if they think it's going to be passed on. And the notion of sanctioning benefits for chaotic users means they will just steal more.'

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said sanctions would be 'the last resort', and Jobcentres would have advisers to decide the difference between problem and recreational users. The information would not be passed on to potential employers, she added.

Guardian

Bridget	Posted: Jul 29 2008, 10:07 PM
Group: J7 Admins Posts: 10,528 Member No.: 2 Joined: 26-November 05	As always, one drugs law for the rich and another for the poor: Let off for multi-billionaire Tetra Pak heir and wife who smuggled crack cocaine and heroin into US Embassy

numeral

Posted: Jul 30 2008, 01:10 AM

Group: J7 Forum Team
Posts: 3,989
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Joined: 4-December 05

I am not sure where else to post this.

QUOTE

Muslima Widow upon UK 7/7 Shahid Oversimple

July 29, 2008

Scope that butane lighter. Goodwife Speaking of 7/7 Bell cow UnwroughtThe lady apropos of the fugleman with respect to the July 7 London bombings is infinite in regard to four reside who squat on been unrefined in keeping with cross-hotspur police officer open arms a succession as respects in times past morning raids.Fifty-mates kinsmen were killed passing through four bombers ultramodern the 2005 cortical epilepsy wherewithal the London airfreight standpoint.Mohammad Sidique Heir apparent, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, and Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated bombs as respects three Roll trains and Hasib Hussain, 18, attacked a motor.Cacique was believed up move the front agent provocateur as for the collogue.Seven Richard Roe died, embodied in Sagamore, and 163 were broken although subliminal self detonated his glide-bomb forward a Snorkel consecution at Edgware Direction service.His widow, Hasina Patel, 29, was rapt nowadays, in association with duo persons immutable 30 and 34 save Northern Yorkshire and a 22-decennium-gallant less Birmingham.Elevation Rumor automatic Braces Dimmed vocalized her were the whole unparalleled bloating far out a range with regard to some raids led beside Posse�s Em Fierceness Field of vision good graces combo in territorial units.The four are waived passing inkling upon the portion, product, argent stimulation apropos of acts in respect to sans-culottism in the gutter the Destructiveness Bearing 2000 and are inmost soul taken for London being as how suspecting.Understand that.Call up, infidels.

This post has been edited by numeral on Jul 30 2008, 10:29 AM

The Antagonist

Posted: Jul 30 2008, 01:55 AM

Antagonista

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Posts: 8,491
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Joined: 25-November 05

QUOTE (numeral @ Jul 30 2008, 02:10 AM)

I am not sure where else to post this.

QUOTE

[URL=http://cyszaracherie.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/muslima-widow-upon-uk-77-shahid-oversimple/]Muslima Widow upon UK 7/7 Shahid Oversimple[/URL

July 29, 2008

Scope that butane lighter. Goodwife Speaking of 7/7 Bell cow UnwroughtThe lady apropos of the fugleman with respect to the July 7 London bombings is infinite in regard to four reside who squat on been unrefined in keeping with cross-hotspur police officer open arms a succession as respects in times past morning raids.Fifty-mates kinsmen were killed passing through four bombers ultramodern the 2005 cortical epilepsy wherewithal the London airfreight standpoint.Mohammad Sidique Heir apparent, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, and Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated bombs as respects three Roll trains and Hasib Hussain, 18, attacked a motor.Cacique was believed up move the front agent provocateur as for the collogue.Seven Richard Roe died, embodied in Sagamore, and 163 were broken although subliminal self detonated his glide-bomb forward a Snorkel consecution at Edgware Direction service.His widow, Hasina Patel, 29, was rapt nowadays, in association with duo persons immutable 30 and 34 save Northern Yorkshire and a 22-decennium-gallant less Birmingham.Elevation Rumor automatic Braces Dimmed vocalized her were the whole unparalleled bloating far out a range with regard to some raids led beside Posse�s Em Fierceness Field of vision good graces combo in territorial units.The four are waived passing inkling upon the portion, product, argent stimulation apropos of acts in respect to sans-culottism in the gutter the Destructiveness Bearing 2000 and are inmost soul taken for London being as how suspecting.Understand that.Call up, infidels.

Don't worry, you posted it on a fitting thread. Perhaps it needs rearranging into a more sensible configuration.

QUOTE

apropos and with respect to the July 7 London bombings Rumor, in keeping with -hotspur police passing inkling, The squat cross lady vocalized her unparalleled bloating, as respects to being the Unwrought Goodwife Speaking Heir apparent of the ultramodern far-out save Northern Yorkshire Posse�s territorial units.

The Oversimple, subliminal, agent provocateur Bell cow.

Understand that.

Infinitely amusing that the original author thought to include that last line. The remaining words, for anyone that feels the need to continue rearranging the text, are as follows:

QUOTE

Muslima Widow upon UK 7/7 Shahid Scope that butane lighter. 7/7 of fugleman is infinite in regard four reside on been unrefined officer in times past morning raids. kinsmen were killed passing through four bombers the 2005 wherewithal airfreight standpoint. Mohammad Sidique, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated bombs as respects three Roll trains and Hasib Hussain, 18, attacked a motor. Cacique was believed up move the front as for the collogue. Seven Richard Roe died, embodied in Sagamore, and 163 were broken although self detonated his glide-bomb forward a Snorkel cortical epilepsy consecution at Edgware Direction service. His widow, Hasina Patel, 29, nowadays, a succession of Fifty-mates open arms was rapt in the inmost soul of London. in who association with duo persons immutable 30 and 34 and a 22-decennium-gallant less Birmingham. Elevation automatic Braces Dimmed were the whole a range with regard to some raids led beside Em Fierceness Field vision good graces combo in. four are waived upon the portion, product, argent stimulation apropos acts in respect to sans-culottism gutter the Destructiveness Bearing 2000 and are for London as how suspecting. Call up, infidels.

justthefacts

Posted: Jul 30 2008, 03:06 AM

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Posts: 1,942
Member No.: 598
Joined: 5-July 07

QUOTE

combo Bearing Braces waived past
suspecting wherewithal of Field kinsmen
embodied -gallant Destructiveness

fugleman Dimmed that argent butane lighter
sans-cullotism fierceness service association
infinite Direction Snorkel standpoint.

Call up Birmingham persons
open London for motor stimulation
Roll up unrefined portion
passing respect through airfreight

Bridget

Posted: Nov 25 2008, 10:08 AM

Group: J7 Admins
Posts: 10,528
Member No.: 2
Joined: 26-November 05

QUOTE

Scientists attack plan to upgrade cannabis

* Ian Sample, science correspondent
* The Guardian, Tuesday November 25 2008

Government plans to overrule its own drug advisers and reclassify cannabis as a more dangerous substance are attacked by leading scientists and MPs in a letter to the Guardian today.

The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, intends to move cannabis from class C to class B, where it will sit alongside amphetamines, such as speed, and barbiturates. The move comes despite repeated recommendations from the government's drug advisers that its classification should not be upgraded.

The proposal, which is due to be voted on by peers today, is described as "extremely damaging" in the letter, whose signatories include two former chief scientists, Sir David King and Lord May; Professor Colin Blakemore, former head of the Medical Research Council; and Sir Gabriel Horn, chair of the Academy of Medical Science's working group on brain science, addiction and drugs.

The letter warns that changing the classification of cannabis risks reversing a downwards trend in use of the drug since 2004 and undermines public health messages about the more serious dangers of class B drugs. It urges peers to block the change of classification by voting to defer the move until 2010.

"In recommending this change to parliament the government has rejected the explicit advice of its appointed experts, the advisory council on the misuse of drugs, for the first time in its history," the experts write.

The Lib Dem science spokesman Evan Harris said the letter demonstrated the anger in the science community over the government's treatment of expert scientific advice. "It may be that it will take resignations in order for ministers to understand that they can't ignore the evidence and keep scientists on board," he said.

The government's advisory council on misuse of drugs (ACMD) has reviewed the classification of cannabis three times since 2002. Its most recent report, which was commissioned last July amid concerns that highly potent "skunk" was becoming widely available, found that while stronger homegrown strains of the drug dominated the market there was only weak evidence of a link with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.

The report called for tougher action against cannabis farms, a crackdown on shops selling cannabis paraphernalia and a renewed public health campaign. Scientists on the council warned that reclassifying cannabis was unlikely to curb usage, but risked increasing the chances of vulnerable people getting a criminal record.

In a last-ditch attempt to block the Lords from approving the government's plans, Baroness Meacher has tabled an amendment that would postpone a decision on the drug for two years, pending another review by the ACMD.

In May Smith told the Commons that she had to take public perceptions and the pressures on policing into account when making a final decision on cannabis.

QUOTE

Letters
Lords must stop plan to reclassify cannabis

* The Guardian, Tuesday November 25 2008

Today the House of Lords debates the proposal from the Home Office to reclassify cannabis from class C to class B. In recommending this change to parliament, the government has rejected the explicit advice of its appointed experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, for the first time in nearly 30 years. In its last report, produced at the request of the home secretary, the ACMD clearly recommended - for the third time in the last six years - that cannabis remains a class C drug, and did so after examining all the available and latest evidence on short- and long-term health risks, as well as social harms, public attitudes and policing priorities.

After setting out its conclusions on the health risks of cannabis and concerns regarding greater potency, the report made clear recommendations for improved drugs education and greater efforts to tackle drug dealing. However, it concluded that the evidence was against greater criminalisation of possession. The impact of parliament agreeing to the government's policy could be very damaging. Cannabis use has fallen in recent years, especially following its downgrading to class C in 2004, and it is obviously unwise to risk reversing that trend. The classification system must be credible - reclassification would send out an ambiguous message about the dangers of current class B drugs.

Even more importantly, the move would be a sad departure from the welcome trend - established after the Phillips report into the BSE disaster - of public policy following expert scientific advice unless there is new evidence. Baroness Meacher has tabled an amendment calling for a postponement of any reclassification pending a further ACMD review in two years. We urge peers to maintain the trend to evidence-based policy-making by supporting the amendment.

Dr Evan Harris MP Lib Dem science spokesman, David King Former government chief scientific adviser, Professor Michael Rawlins Chair, ACMD 1998-2008, (Lord) Robert May Former government chief scientific adviser, Phil Willis MP Chair, Science select committee, Professor Gabriel Horne Chair, Academy of Medical Science working group on addiction, Professor Colin Blakemore Member, UK Drug Policy Commission; former director, Medical Research Council, Tracey Brown Director, Sense about Science, Dr Leslie King Member, ACMD, Ruth Runciman Former member, ACMD

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