PUNISHING ADULTS BECASUE OF WHAT KIDS MAY DO DOES NOT MAKE SENSE

BBC 2's ! "America's Stoned Kids" with addiction expert John Marsden was as disappointing as his previous documentaries on cannabis - pretty one-sided, he focussed more on one or two teenagers (called kids) and the risk that he put at one in four would carry on using cannabis which he calls dependency.

After showing the availability of medicinal cannabis he twisted it to show how readily available cannabis is to teenagers (as it is in most places where there is no medical availabilty).

Marsden tried to use the scare-mongering idea that if cannabis is avaialble legally to adults, more "kids" would become addicted and then used that to oppose legalisation - he completely ignored the pain and suffering cause by prohibition and unjust punishment.

How can he try to justify punishing victimless and medicinal users, argue against legal controlled commercial supply and cultivation of one's own cannabis because "kids" risk their health and safety?

Because the argument that adults should be punished or put at risk - forced to deal with ciminal suppliers or break the law by cultivating the plant because of what the kids do - if followed as a principle upon which to base laws, then adults would be banned from doing anything that could be harmful to young people. Drinking, driving, ....

It's obvious to me that both kids and aults are at greater risk if they are left at the mercy of less-than-scrupulous and criminal drug dealing profiteers than they would be at risk of a regulated supply system with quality control, credible point-of-sale advice, hygiene, age restrictions and tax on profits.

As for the closing sequence in which John Marsden shows cannabis cookies and sweets - an alternative was to smoking cannabis - and complains that they may be attractive to the kids so ought not be allowed - that sort of logic made nonsense of the whole show,

Change the drug laws - solve the problems

Since when has arresting and locking up drug dealers actually reduced the flow of those drugs that the Government seems to have randomly selected to make the possession and sale illegal?

Maybe for a few days, but the profit motivation - especially amongst those already "addicted" - is massive and if a prison sentence does not deter them, neither will a longer prison sentence.

Remove that profit motivation by enabling addicts to get their supply of clean drugs - without being offered other drugs - through doctors and pharmacists - must be the sensible alternative - take control of the supply of addictive drugs just like the Government has at least some controls over alcohol (at least those that drink it CAN choose to avoid criminal supplies).

That way quality and dose will be assured, addicts will be identified and any profits made taxed.

Alcohol is one of the most damaging drugs in our society causing violence, absenteeism, illness and premature death, for those that use it to excess.  Yet I don't here calls to lock up drinkers or pub managers.  Just look back at US prohibition and see the EXTRA damage it caused - and that extra damage is now being caused by the ban on the possession and supply other drugs.

And it is costing the taxpayer BILLIONS annually.  In the name of the "war on drugs" which is in fact a war on some people that possess or sell some drugs whilst other drugs are allowed.

Why don't the politicians change this?  Simply because they fear their jobs as the Government and the press have convinced the people that prohibition is the best way.

So it is up to the voters now to open their eyes and tell their politicians that prohibition is an expensive and disastrous failure.

DRUGS INQUIRY: 'Put the dealers behind bars for much longer'
Leicester Mercury, 12 March 2012


In the first of a series of articles about the impact of drugs in Leicestershire, Mercury crime correspondent Ciaran Fagan spoke to a former addict to find out his views on drug laws

If former heroin and crack addict Phil Ward could change one thing about Britain's drug laws he would see dealers spending at least 20 years behind bars.

The 40-year-old was in the grip of the two highly-addictive drugs for more than 20 years and has been in and out of prison for the crimes he committed to support his habit.

Now clean and living and working in Loughborough, the father of three said: "People are still making a lot of money out of heroin, even though the price is stupidly low.

"If you add up all of the costs to the country – the NHS, the police, the courts and all those victims of crime – it's a huge figure.

"If I could change the way things work, it would be the sentences dealers get. Heroin is evil and it destroys lives. These people destroy lives and make a lot of money out of it.

"So the people who make money out of selling it – not the low-level people, I mean the people driving around in flash cars – should go to prison for at least 20 or 25 years."

He also advocates a system where the state would prescribe heroin to users. However "recreational" drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy should remain illegal, he said.

"It's very hard to get people to come off heroin, but it can be done," he said.
"When you stay off it you think you are dying, you get cold sweats and stomach cramps. But you're not dying, you're actually getting better. After three days it feels better and after a week you're right as rain.

"I don't think the police can keep up with the drugs market. There are cutbacks everywhere now, including police.

"Drug dealers aren't having cutbacks though are they?

"When I first started taking heroin in the late 80s, I had to go to Liverpool or Manchester to get it because it just wasn't available here.

"Now it's all over the place. It's an evil drug but the whole issue of addiction is pushed under the carpet in this country for some reason.

"I think it's good that the politicians are having this debate now. They should listen to people like me who know what it's like to be addicted to this stuff and have been inside the prison system."

Should our drugs laws be changed?

The Leicester Mercury today launches an online opinion poll asking readers if they support a major overhaul of the country's drugs laws.

Readers are asked whether they believe highly-addictive drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine should be decriminalised.

Readers are being asked if they believe cannabis should be legalised. They are also being asked whether they believe highly-addictive drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine should be decriminalised
They are also being asked if they believe cannabis should be legalised.

Responses to the online poll – on the Mercury's website – will feed directly into a major inquiry being conducted by the Home Affairs Select Committee, chaired by Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, and could shape the future of the country's drug laws.

HOW TO VOTE

1. Should possession of cannabis be legalised?
Click here to add your vote.


2. Should possession of drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine be decriminalised?
Use the panel on the right of this article to vote on this question.

Big results in war on drugs - claim police

Whilst I guess the people and the police deserve credit for taking dirty uncontrolled drugs and the criminal suppliers of the streets, I have to ask WHAT has this achieved in the long term?

I have read many reports similar to this, that police have taken considerable amounts of drugs off the streets, but it just does not seem to have any long-term benefits.

It's like there is an endless supply of these substances and an endless queue of people willing to step in and replace the dealers - the profits must be well worth the risk in their eyes. NO, we need to take afresh look at the drugs policy in this country - and remove it from the hands of unscrupulous suppliers who care little about quality and risk and a lot about their untaxable profits.

The present policy of leaving the production and supply in the hands of people like these dealers, we are exposing our people and their CHILDREN to them.

At least with alcohol and tobacco, there is a lower age limit - or the streets there's just a lower cash limit . The Government must introduce some system to get round this: the restrictions should depend upon the relative risk of the drugs including nicotine and tobacco - a good starting point.

According to a report from the American Medical Association that compared risk of addiction and toxic overdose, they put the drugs in this order - worst risk at the top tobacco, heroin cocaine, alcohol Caffeine, amphetamine cannabis E LSD Cannabis is third up, apparently, because although it is not addictive in itself and it is impossible to consume enough to kill, people find it hard to stop because they find it so medicinally beneficial and pleasant, often used on a daily basis.

So a system similar to Dutch Coffeeshops would be suggested for cannabis;
- something like adult shops for E and LSD
- sold from chemists for caffeine and "speed"
- sold from licenses premises for cocaine, like alcohol
- prescription only for heroin and nicotine

Of course it will need to be looked into properly, by scientists, and the Government will need to heed their advice

Big results in war on drugs:  Northants Eveing Telegrapg, January 14 2012

A TOWN’S ongoing war on drugs saw more than £12,000 of cocaine and cannabis seized last year.
Corby police officers carried out 53 search warrants in the borough in 2011, snaring £3,430 worth of cannabis, £9,150 worth of cocaine and 832 cannabis plants.
And they have praised the role of the public, who have tipped them off about suspicious behaviour on a number of occasions.
Officers also arrested 23 people for drug supplying and other connected offences.
And as a result of the warrants, officers also retrieved two stolen cars, one stolen motorbike and a stolen 37 inch television.
The statistics do not include a large consignment of Class A drugs seized from a light aircraft at Deenethorpe Airfield in July as this falls in the East Northamptonshire district.
Corby police commander Insp Gary Williams said: “This is really about highlighting the excellent proactivity of our Safer Community Team in Corby in tackling drugs in the community.
“The vast majority of warrants executed have come as a direct result of confidential information received from members of the community, and as a result of working with the wardens and caretakers, who are the eyes and ears of the community.”
Insp Williams said the results reinforced the police’s message on drugs.
He said: “I have said before that we are totally committed to tackling drugs in our community and we will always treat information in the strictest confidence and discretion and where possible, act on it as soon as possible.
“This is further improving confidence the community has in the police in Corby.”
Properties in Wick Close, Eastbrook, Gainsborough Road, Blenheim Walk, Greenhill Rise, Netherfield Grove, Hogarth Walk and Holbein Walk were among those targeted in drugs raids in 2011.

Published Letter: Law Must Be Changed - Liverpool Echo

I READ your article Cannabis: what you need to know ( ECHO, July 21) with great interest.

About cannabis you reported: “smoking cannabis holds the same risks as smoking a normal cigarette. Psychologically, is to reported to cause anxiety and paranoia in some users.

“The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs found a ‘probable but weak causal link between psychotic illness and cannabis use’. Cannabis is not chemically addictive.”

So I have to ask why the Government is pending billions of pounds taxpayers’ money trying to stop people growing and using it. Why are they so set at treating cannabis users differently to people that choose to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco, both known to be dangerous and addictive to some people and with a definite causal link between booze and psychotic illness.

Clearly the law is wrong and the lawmakers have some explaining to do.

Alun Buffry, by email

Ref: http://www.ccguide.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=16412

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/views/echo-letters/2011/07/26/liverpool-echo-letters-july-26-2011-100252-29117568/2/

Liverpool Echo, July 26 2011