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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.
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