News
All the latest "drug equality" related news.
The Drug Equality Alliance have prepared a submission for the Home Affairs Select Committee's current Inquiry into drug misuse
Drug Equality Alliance
(7th April 2012)
This document (download link below) encapsulates a concise summary of our legal thesis, tuned to address the specific terms of reference required by the Inquiry. We are particularly concerned that the Inquiry labours under the same pervasive errors of law and thinking that demonstrated across government and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The whole debate is skewed from the start by reference to discussing 'legal' and 'illegal' drugs', thus normalising the very errors of law that perpetuate the artificial divide at the centre of drug user policy.
Download DEA Submission to Home Affairs Select Committee Drugs Inquiry 2012
Drug Equality Alliance Commentary on Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
Drug Equality Alliance
(6th Devember 2010)
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill if enacted would effectively emasculate and by-pass the expert Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (“ACMD”). This would allow the government free reign to control various drug users, without the need for the statutory consultation process nor any of the required scientific expertise being present on the council.
Drugs advice body needs scientists, say campaigners
BBC Online
(6th December 2010)
Campaigners have criticised government plans to remove the legal requirement for scientists to be on the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11923644
Government proposes to scrap need for scientific advice on drugs policy
Guardian Online
(5th December 2010)
Amendment removes requirement to appoint at least six scientists to Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/05/government-scientific-advice-drugs-policy
Home Secretary and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs set for embarrassment over alcohol and tobacco policy
Drug Equality Alliance
(15th October 2010)
Separate proceedings have been initiated at the High Court
against both the Home Secretary and the Advisory Council on the
Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) for their respective abdication of power
and duty under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 with regards to
alcohol and tobacco control.
Read more
Home Secretary and ACMD to be judicially reviewed re Alcohol and Tobacco Policy
Drug Equality Alliance
(1st September 2010)
Incarcerated US LSD chemist, serving 20 years in UK, seeks to
judicially review the Home Secretary and the Advisory Council on
the Misuse of Drugs political exclusion of alcohol and tobacco
from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Though the claim is in the
public interest, Casey Hardison ultimately wants equal
treatment.
Read more
Home Office internal document reveals bunker mentality of secrecy and suppression
Transform Drug Policy Foundation Blog
(25th June 2010)
A leaked internal Home Office memo exposes a culture of playing fast and loose with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that might expose Government policy to criticism.
http://transform-drugs.blogspot.com/2010/06/home-office-internal-document-reveals.html
Ian Ragan Resignation Letter
Drug Equality Alliance
(22nd June 2010)
The Drug Equality Alliance has obtained a copy of the resignation letter of Ian Ragan, the sixth senior drugs adviser to resign from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) over the Government's persistent refusal to listen to experts when formulating policy. The contents provide further ammunition for the Drug Equality Alliance's legal arguments. Click on the link below to view:
Ian Ragan Resignation Letter (PDF)
Home Office releases part of the consultation paper concerning recommendations for a review of the drug classification system
Drug Equality Alliance
(7th May 2010)
In response to a Freedom of Information request
process submitted by
Casey Hardison,
acting with the Drug Equality Alliance, on the 9th
of March 2010 the Information
Commissioner's Office ordered the Home Office to
disclose a suppressed draft consultation paper with
suggestions for a review of the drug classification
system. The Home Office appealed against this decision
and the outcome of this appeal is now pending. However
on the 7th of May 2010 the Home Office
released part of this consultation paper.
Read more
A collapse in integrity of scientific advice in the UK
The Lancet
(17th April 2010)
The Lancet discusses the current collapse in the integrity of
scientific advice in relation to drug classification,
particularly with respect to the recent ban on Mephedrone.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2960556-9/fulltext
My ACMD resignation letter to the Home Secretary
Eric Carlin's Blog
(2nd April 2010)
Full text of the resignation letter of the 7th
member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to resign
after the dismissal of Professor David Nutt.
http://ericcarlin.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/my-acmd-resignation-letter-to-the-home-secretary/
Government adviser Eric Carlin quits over mephedrone
BBC Online
(2nd April 2010)
Yet another member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Drugs to resigns providing further evidence of the Government's
arbitrary and illegal administration of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8601315.stm
Drug adviser Dr Polly Taylor's full resignation letter
BBC Online
(29th March 2010)
Full text of the resignation letter of the 6th
member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to resign
after the dismissal of Professor David Nutt.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8592157.stm
Scientists quit government drugs body over David Nutt sacking
Times Online
(3rd 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
(30th
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
(29th
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
Home Office
(11th 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
(7th 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
(26th 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
(26th 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
