News

All the latest "drug equality" related news.

 

Scientists quit government drugs body over David Nutt sacking

Times Online
(3^rd November 2009)

Further members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs quit in protest at the dismissal of David Nutt.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6898456.ece

Government drug adviser David Nutt sacked

Guardian Online
(30^th October 2009)

In yet another example of the Government's current policy of not only ignoring evidence but actively suppressing it, Professor David Nutt, the government's chief drug adviser, has been sacked a day after claiming that ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/30/drugs-adviser-david-nutt-sacked

LSD less dangerous than alcohol, says government's drug adviser

Times Online
(29^th October 2009)

In a briefing paper for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King’s College London, David Nutt, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reiterates what the evidence clearly shows. He attacks the "artificial" separation of alcohol and tobacco from illegal drugs as well as criticising the Government's policy on Cannabis .

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6894710.ece

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommends downgrading ecstasy to Class B

(11^th February 2009)

Recommendations have been made to the Government about MDMA ('ecstasy') in a report published today by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) including the reclassification to a Class B drug.

http://press.homeoffice.gov.uk/press-releases/ACMD-report-on-ecstasy

Ecstasy 'no more dangerous than horse riding'

Telegraph Online
(7^th February 2009)

Taking ecstasy is no more dangerous than riding a horse, according to the head of the Government's drug advisory body.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/4537874/Ecstasy-no-more-dangerous-than-horse-riding.html

Debate over cannabis classification

BBC Online
(26^th January 2009)

Cannabis is reclassified from a Class C drug to a Class B drug, carrying a maximum sentence of 5 years for possession. Once again the Government ignores the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). David Nutt, the current Chariman of the ACMD comments "There are potential risks of criminalising people who are using a drug which doesn't harm other people, only themselves [...] Alcohol is more harmful [than cannabis] - to the population, certainly, and to the individual, possibly."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7845023.stm

Making a hash of drugs policy

Guardian Online
(26^th January 2009)

The UK government is about to face a long overdue legal challenge to its misinterpretation of the law on cannabis use.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/26/law-drugspolicy