Government drugs policy review sham

The government has released this leaflet sickeningly called "Drugs; Our community, your say", which is designed to encourage positive feedback for its drugs strategy review. It is, of course, utterly misleading and loaded as you would expect, but it also contains an interesting section on cannabis reclassification:

7. The Government is concerned about skunk and stronger strains of cannabis, because of the reported serious mental health effects they can have. The Government is therefore consulting on whether to make cannabis a Class B drug (it is currently Class C) which could mean tougher penalties. What are your views? Do you think this will help

Now this is interesting because it's the job of the ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) to advise government on issues like this, and this "consultation" could be seen as an attempt to sideline the ACMD. Apparently according to Transform there are legal challenges happening because of the way this scam of a consultation is being carried out - see the Transform blog

It looks like they've given up on trying to pretend drugs policy is in any way evidence based and instead are relying on this citizen consultation scam. This is scary stuff indeed if true.

The Home Office say the reasons for the review are "public concerns" as well as new scientific evidence. The ACMD reply is that they will take into account the evidence of public concern, ie the consultation results. This means its all the more important to get people to respond to the consultation because they will be taking these responses into consideration.

The questions are highly loaded of course, but tell them what you think of prohibition anyway. Below are some suggested answers to their loaded questions you may like to consider giving.

The feedback form is here PLEASE RESPOND - feel free to use the comments below

Suggested comments to make to this sham of a consultation

Q1. What role do you think schools could play in better educating our young people about drugs? Have you heard of FRANK? Take a look at www.talktofrank.co.uk and tell us, do you think the messages about the highs and lows of drug use are right?

A1. Schools can do very little, perhaps delaying age of first use but that's about it. Young people need the law to protect them by properly regulating and controlling the drug trade, this is impossible under the current regime. Talk to Frank is an attempt to use advertising techniques to promote government policy and it's information is compromised by the need to promote the policy of prohibition. This sort of window dressing is no substitute for an effective policy of proper control and regulation.

Q2. We also know that drugs are major source of concern for parents - what more can we do to help parents, guardians and carers talk to their children and families about drugs? And what support should be available if family members get caught up in drugs?

A2. Legalise, control and regulate the market and thus close down the street dealers. Your drug policy is the cause of the concern parents have - as well as being the real cause of so much of the violence was see around us today. Children are the collateral damage caused by your policy of prohibition - protect the children by ending this madness

Q3. Did you know that the police have the power to confiscate drug dealers' houses, cash, cars and valuable possessions? Did you also know that the police can close drug dens within 24 hours? The police rely on communities for intelligence, what more can be done to help communities and their local police service work together? Do the police and local communities have all the legal powers they need to tackle drugs?

A3. Yes I do know all of this, but this situation only exists because prohibition has created it. End prohibition and end the problem, we don't need new police powers, we need an end to the cause of the problem which is the present drugs strategy of prohibition.

Q4. The Government is committed to helping drug users build drug-free lives. Treatment, housing, employment and education are all vital. What more do you think Government, local services, the voluntary sector, private business and others can do to help people stay drug free?

A4. That is a daft commitment. If someone wants to use drugs then why try to force them to stop? Educate and discourage yes, but trying to enforce abstinence is utterly pointless. If people insist on using drugs make it safe for them to do so, let them make their own way in the lives and stop trying to force them to be healthy. Regulate the supply, ensure its crime free and clean - that should be your aim, indeed it's you duty. The only role for enforcement should be against anti social behaviour, measures similar to being drunk and disorderly, driving under the influence etc etc should be applied to all drug use. If people want to quietly get hammered that's fine by me and is not the business of government to prevent it. Drugs can create addicts, but it takes prohibition to create junkies.

Q5. What information and action would reassure you that drug dealing and other drug-related nuisances were being tackled where you live?

A5. Legalisation is the only option. I want drugs to be sold in licensed regulated venues by licensed and regulated - accountable - dealers. I want to know that these dealers and venues are properly regulated to ensure they are run as orderly houses (as with pubs). I want to know that you are imposing and enforcing proper restrictions on the trade such as age limits, but also proper weights and measures, standards of hygiene and so on. I want to know that drug dealers are informed about the products they sell, that doses are properly regulated etc etc. I do not want to live in a state of civil war as you seem to be proposing. If drugs are dangerous, treat them as if they are dangerous with proper regulation instead of pushing the trade down dark alleys and into the hands of organised crime as you have done thus far.

Q6. The Government remains concerned that drugs can look glamorous to young people. What more can we do to challenge this? Do you think we could do more through role models, including those from peer groups? How can we get more young people involved in challenging the drugs culture?

A6. Legalise them, ban advertising etc etc. Make them an adult pastime instead of pushing them underground and into the hands of street dealers who will by their nature target kids. Ban all advertising and branding other than at point of sale - and that includes alcohol. Being honest about drugs is something the government is well understood not to be.

Q7. The Government is concerned about skunk and stronger strains of cannabis, because of the reported serious mental health effects they can have. The Government is therefore consulting on whether to make cannabis a Class B drug (it is currently Class C) which could mean tougher penalties. What are your views? Do you think this will help?

A7. Advising on drug policy is a job for the ACMD, not an unrepresentative survey like this, why is this question in here? Are you intending to form policy on the back of media scare stories and uninformed opinion? It sure looks like it. The cannabis policy is in a mess and reclassification will do nothing to improve it. It will produce an unworkable law leading to even more contempt than many people have already. Control and regulate cannabis so consumers know what they're getting and enforce age limits on sales. Stop playing to the gutter press media in this pathetic and sickening way. If cannabis has become stronger - or do you mean more potent with less CBD content? - this has happened as a response to the prohibition policy of the past few decades. A major problem with cannabis these days is contamination, micro glass beads and so on. This may be a public health problem which you have failed to address, please do so urgently. The issue of illegal farms, child exploitation etc etc is also a result of your policy. Cannabis may be dangerous for some people, but it is far too established in our culture to try to fight a war against. Legalisation should have happened years ago, this latest move is sickening. Please stop following the USA in its insane drug war and protect our people from the violence and illegal economy it's produced.