28 Nov '09 07:06>
Our chief adviser on drugs policy has now resigned over the reclassification to a class B drug against his advice. No scientific case for this can be given. It's prohibition, based on other prejudices our MPs have on the issue.
There is a strong economic case for legalisation aswell: In the UK we have 10.8% - c 6 million using cannabis, causing a black economy of c £1.7 Billion. Plus 74% of UK drug convictions relating to cannabis. In the US, the same calculation ( assume $20 p/m spending per user) gives $8.6 Billion spent. Given the low cost of production if legal, a large portion of this could be tax, plus less police/court/prison time wasted on otherwise law abiding people.
Here's a campaign website in California where 54% now back legalistion. http://www.taxcannabis.org/
The CBS broadcast there shows a mature discussion in the US about this which is lacking in the UK: It's seen as immoral to deprive patients who can benefit from the drug, those with Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, Chemotherapy, and other conditions and wrong for the police to raid premises which supply them. The Obama Administration say the National Govt will not intervene in such cases. And 14 US States have already legalized cannabis for medical use, with more discussing the issue in 2010.
However in the UK the debate is far behind America, with none of the major political parties prepared to discuss the issue, offering no democratic mechanism for it to be taken forward. I think our current prohibition is an immoral burden on our economy and the 6 million people who choose to use it. If this were a religious group it would be seen as a form of prejudice. And I want my opinions to count in the next election. So who should the 6 million UK users be voting for?
There is a strong economic case for legalisation aswell: In the UK we have 10.8% - c 6 million using cannabis, causing a black economy of c £1.7 Billion. Plus 74% of UK drug convictions relating to cannabis. In the US, the same calculation ( assume $20 p/m spending per user) gives $8.6 Billion spent. Given the low cost of production if legal, a large portion of this could be tax, plus less police/court/prison time wasted on otherwise law abiding people.
Here's a campaign website in California where 54% now back legalistion. http://www.taxcannabis.org/
The CBS broadcast there shows a mature discussion in the US about this which is lacking in the UK: It's seen as immoral to deprive patients who can benefit from the drug, those with Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, Chemotherapy, and other conditions and wrong for the police to raid premises which supply them. The Obama Administration say the National Govt will not intervene in such cases. And 14 US States have already legalized cannabis for medical use, with more discussing the issue in 2010.
However in the UK the debate is far behind America, with none of the major political parties prepared to discuss the issue, offering no democratic mechanism for it to be taken forward. I think our current prohibition is an immoral burden on our economy and the 6 million people who choose to use it. If this were a religious group it would be seen as a form of prejudice. And I want my opinions to count in the next election. So who should the 6 million UK users be voting for?