Dear All
You sack one drugs advisor who criticised Labour Government policy and then appoint a man who had called for cannabis to be legalised.
Professor David Nutt, was sacked for criticising the Government’s decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B substance as part of their political game to be seen to be tough on crime.
It was a stupid move on their part and part of their knee jerk approach to bad headlines.
Drugs policy, not on the hoof but by Daily Mail headline!
Now, Les Iversen, a former pharmacology professor at the University of Oxford, has been made interim chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Another embarassing gaffe by the Labour Government and an indication that their current drugs strategy is out of step with current thinking.
I believe that the only sensible way forward is legalisation of drugs to save money, free up the courts and manage the problem effectively while still targeting organised crime; these people need to be bankrupted and their assets seized.
Before getting his feet under the desk Professor Iversen said previously;
“There have been no deaths to date caused by use of cannabis. Cannabis should be legalised, not just decriminalised, because it is comparatively less dangerous than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco.”
And of course, less we forget a source of tax revenue.
When questioned about his previous views he said;
“I don’t remember saying that. It’s certainly not my position now”.
Amazing what a public appointment can do is it not?
Although Iversen is free to change his mind, it is ridiculous that he can simply 180 from his previous position.
So, another yesman takes a NGO post, I wonder if the Tories where to favour legalising cannabis would Iversen change him mind again?
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is now seen as damaged goods, rather than been seen as independent it has been transformed in a politicised group, a rubber stamp for Government policy.
Luckily Iversen got a place on the Council, the day care centres were probably all full up!
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
You sack one drugs advisor who criticised Labour Government policy and then appoint a man who had called for cannabis to be legalised.
Professor David Nutt, was sacked for criticising the Government’s decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B substance as part of their political game to be seen to be tough on crime.
It was a stupid move on their part and part of their knee jerk approach to bad headlines.
Drugs policy, not on the hoof but by Daily Mail headline!
Now, Les Iversen, a former pharmacology professor at the University of Oxford, has been made interim chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Another embarassing gaffe by the Labour Government and an indication that their current drugs strategy is out of step with current thinking.
I believe that the only sensible way forward is legalisation of drugs to save money, free up the courts and manage the problem effectively while still targeting organised crime; these people need to be bankrupted and their assets seized.
Before getting his feet under the desk Professor Iversen said previously;
“There have been no deaths to date caused by use of cannabis. Cannabis should be legalised, not just decriminalised, because it is comparatively less dangerous than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco.”
And of course, less we forget a source of tax revenue.
When questioned about his previous views he said;
“I don’t remember saying that. It’s certainly not my position now”.
Amazing what a public appointment can do is it not?
Although Iversen is free to change his mind, it is ridiculous that he can simply 180 from his previous position.
So, another yesman takes a NGO post, I wonder if the Tories where to favour legalising cannabis would Iversen change him mind again?
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is now seen as damaged goods, rather than been seen as independent it has been transformed in a politicised group, a rubber stamp for Government policy.
Luckily Iversen got a place on the Council, the day care centres were probably all full up!
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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