Fired UK Drug Adviser Continues to Speak Out; Two Others Resign in Protest, More May Follow
Two members of Britain’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs have resigned in protest after the group’s chairman, Professor David Nutt, was fired last week for criticizing the UK government’s decision to strengthen penalties for marijuana offenses. Chemist Les King and pharmacist Marion Walker said that the government wrongly dismissed Nutt and violated his freedom of expression.
Several other advisers on the once 31-member group are rumored to be “planning collective action” against British Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who has taken to the airwaves to defend his controversial sacking of Nutt.
Johnson said Nutt publicly campaigned against government policy and “crossed the line” when he said illegal drugs such as marijuana, LSD, and ecstasy were safer than legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol.
“Professor Nutt was not sacked for his views, which I respect but disagree with,” Johnson wrote in today’s Guardian. “He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy.”
It certainly is frustrating, to say the least, (“mind-boggling” might be a better word) when the people hired to reassess flawed government policies get punished for doing just that. But now that many high-profile members of Britain’s scientific community are speaking out about the incident, there is reason to hope that more Britons will realize just how misguided their current marijuana laws are, and that they too should support a change in the way the UK classifies certain drugs.
Nutt himself has continued to speak out about his ousting and the reasons behind it, arguing that his actions—as opposed to Johnson’s—were motivated by science, not politics.
In Nutt’s own words: “When [UK Prime Minister] Gordon Brown says that cannabis is a ‘lethal drug,’ when it clearly isn’t, young people are not going to pay him any notice. You don’t reduce drug harm by lying.”
Tagged with: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and David Nutt and Great Britain and marijuana by the author
44 comments
You guys in the US should thank yourself lucky. At least you have people that are prepared to have a sensible discussion. Not so in the UK, have an opinion, get silenced or loose your job.
No area in the UK’s gov will EVER open the prohibition arguement. This will cause a stir but will be tomorrows news as most people in the UK are completely apathetic in changing matters, the gov want to keep it this way.
Yes im very cynical but ive seen UK gov’s come and go, they want to have the last ruling on everything be it right or wrong morally.
I fear cannabis for medical or recreational use will never be available in the UK unless pressured from outside of the country to do so. Pressure from inside the country is always quickly silenced.
America controls world drug policy. Once we legalize, the UK will follow.
Mark, Glenolden, PA I sincerely hope your right.
You’ll have to excuse my cynicism, after living so many years under differing UK governments its very hard to believe that change of this magnitude will be allowed to happen.
Lets hope common sense prevails, there’s little of it about in the current world of UK politics, they appear to be so far out of touch with what the common people want on every issue its not even remotely funny any more.
@bob: You may think it’s better over here, but it really isn’t. The mere fact that Nutt made these statements in the first place illustrates this perfectly.
Here in the US, our “Drug Czar” is required by law to oppose the legalization, or even re-scheduling, of cannabis and other substances. He is literally not even allowed to question the legal prohibition of cannabis. And, if he did, he would have been ostracized and discredited with extreme prejudice, with political pressure in place to make sure nobody prominent supported his views.
However, in the UK, you’ve got a scientific community that is standing up to political pressure as we speak. By firing Nutt, the British government has turned him into a martyr around which the scientific community is more than happy to rally. I think this will ultimately lead to good things for the constant struggle on the part of scientists to speak the truth in the face of political pressure.
I’m not saying that the UK will legalize before the US; the momentum on this side of the pond is quite strong at the moment. But ultimately it seems that your society has more respect for scientific inquiry, as opposed to the rampant moralizing that takes place here.
The article states: “Professor Nutt was not sacked for his views, which I respect but disagree with,” Johnson wrote in today’s Guardian. “He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy.” Then following this train of thought wouldn’t ANYONE who EVER brought up ANY change even in the smallest degree of any policy (even traffic law?) be guilty of this same offense?? How can ANY change occur????
I always thought the UK was far ahead of us (in America) on this issue. Turns out I was wrong. But then again, I hear that the entire drug advisory board in the UK may resign over this, and maybe even folks from other advisory boards as well. That wouldn’t happen here.
And hey Mark, the U.S. government outlawed cannabis in Japan at the end of world war 2, but Japan does not seem poised to re-legaliz even if we do. Once we do finally do the right thing, it could take decades before the people we’ve bullied into cannabis prohibition follow us in the opposite direction.
But then again, I hear that the entire drug advisory board in the UK may resign over this, and maybe even folks from other advisory boards as well. That wouldn’t happen here.
That’s right. The only reason that the US Drug Czar hasn’t been fired for statements like those that Nutt made is because here in the US, the Drug Czar is a politician, not a scientist. We approach the entire issue from a political standpoint, and science is given lip service at best. What this story really demonstrates to me is the power that the British scientific community holds in the political arena compared to their American counterparts.
In fact, we’ve preemptively prevented our drug czar from ever speaking the truth like David Nutt recently did. It’s right there in the ONDCP Reauthorization Act of 1998. According to that piece of legislation, the Drug Czar:
“shall ensure that no Federal funds appropriated to the ONDCP shall be expended for any study or contract relating to the legalization (for a medical use or any other use) of a substance listed in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act and take such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use of a substance (in any form) that–
1. is listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act; and
2. has not been approved for use for medical purposes by the Food and Drug Administration.”
In other words, our Drug Czar is required — by law — to oppose legalization. It’s not the Office of National Drug Control Policy, it’s the Office of National Drug Prohibition Policy. At least David Nutt got to speak truth to power before he was shitcanned.
This is the lead story on the Guardian website for 2 days now. NO mention of this from any major media outlet in the U.S. save for MPP. Considering everything going on with the marijuana debate here, one would expect to hear something so relevant reported on. so sick and tired of media only covering the bullshit.
Its days like today when I wake up thinking damn, its monday, this is going to suck. Then I log onto MPP and read an article like this and it just puts the biggest smile on my face! The tides are turning people, and fast. One day real soon those in favor of prohibition are going to wake up and shit their pants when they realize their whole world has been turned upside down!
To #8 arrr, NORML covered this in detail also.
Liers, liers, their pants are on fire!
Also NORML is speaking out against weakening the bills just to get them passed. We should be strengthening our rights for medical marijuana patients. We should have the right to grow our own cannabis. No matter where we live in relation to a “non-profit pharmacy” that charges more than the street dealer.
I fully support MPP, but thats just wrong.
Gee, I wouldn’t be expecting England to be leading any reforms on citizens’ personal freedoms. If anything, based on what I am being exposed to, England is /is becoming “1984 big brother”. society. Behind the scenes…not that hidden anymore, Amerika and the rest of the “free” west seems to be following suit. All us “we the people” need to be paying attention to this new world government being pushed…new laws, treaties, agreements…thru the UN….that could get us into a situation that puts our constitution in jeopardy. More personal freedoms to be lost; more government controls to be created. And besides, isn’t the financial district in London where we sent all those trillions to the bankster gangsters?
@Bud from Kentucky – You are totally right. MPP is great, but NORML really stands firm on issues that need to be dealt with right. When you talked about living in relation to a pharmacy, you were likely referring to the MPP attempt in Arizona to make it so you can’t grow your own cannabis unless you live over 25 miles away from a dispensary. I agree, this is fucked up. You should be able to grow you own cannabis regardless of how close you live to a dispensary.
MPP is great, but DON”T forget to check out NORML.org. NORML does a lot of good that MPP DOESN’T do at all. Make sure to support PERSONAL GROWING RIGHTS so that we may grow as much tax-free cannabis as we want when it’s legalized. Don’t let them make us buy it all in a dispensary!
Watch the MPP close, they sometimes do sketch shit with their cannabis legislation… Like in Arizona.
Well, not it’s obvious they weren’t interested in scientific facts in the first place, just as our own U.S. government doesn’t rely on facts either.
Our health and well being ultimately rely entirely on politics.
@Bud, James Crosby: I agree that NORML is a great organization, but I think you’re being a little rough on MPP.
As folks often say, politics is the art of the possible. If MPP had refused to ever consider anything besides full legalization, we would undoubtedly be worse off right now because of that. It’s important to keep the ultimate goal in mind, yes. But it’s also important not to let the perfect become the enemy of the good.
Either way, no matter whose approach you support most, you should donate whatever you can to the people helping us make legal marijuana a reality.
Conservatives are getting on board!!!
http://bit.ly/3MwYFP
TO all the MPP haters:
Come on people… MPP is a POLITACAL ACTION COMMITTEE… to understand why MPP supports certain bills then you have to truly understand politics and where we really are in this fight.
I think I can confidently say that if it were up to MPP the only kind of legislation that MPP would support is one that would legalize and regulate marijuana for all Responsible Adults. They would support only legislation that would allow for the personal cultivation. The thing is, there are politicians that would oppose such legislation so they have to take a different approach.
MPP’s job is to take notice of the political climate (which is different in each area and for each measure) and determine what the best way to actually get legislation passed. It does absolutely no one any good to support a full legalization bill in an area that does not have the political capital to pass. If the addition of a personal cultivation admendment would turn away votes, then that portion of the bill has to go. The most important step to the fight is to get each and every state to pass some form of medical access. Once that is complete further steps can be taken and eventually we will have the full legalization that we deserve.
Bruce, Rob, Aaron, Mike and everyone else at MPP…. keep up the good work and thank you for fighting for my rights!!!
I’m a contributing member of both, and I don’t know why anyone here wouldn’t be.
Neither’s perfect, but they’re both valuable dogs in this hunt!
I’m loving this story from the UK. The US’s bullying of other nations on the drugs issue, is abhorrent. Who needs friends who tie the control of your citizens to their friendship?
they’ll rue the Day they sacked this Nutt! …. it will be remembered as the Great Nutt Sack
If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thomas_Jefferson
Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirit.
Thomas Jefferson
If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826), letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826), Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781-82
Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have … The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
Democracy is 51% of the people taking away the rights of the other 49%.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thomas_Jefferson
Check it out.
Do any of these Quotas sound familiar?.
Maybe our founding Fathers knew what we are not seeing.
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
Considering what has happened in the UK over the years and what IS happening here in the USA NOW, maybe we should really pay attention to what our founding fathers Knew back then. I mean really, look at these quotes from Thomas Jefferson. Dont they ring true to What is happening to our country?
I do support both and I have nothing but full pride in both groups. Your going to win some and your going to get knocked down every now and then. It still makes us look wishy washy and we should build on the best, not back up. There was something fishy about the Arizona deal and I asked to see where MPP had to make that concession. I never heard any more about it. Playing politics is why we are in this hunt today. Without politics you can stand tall and look your opponent in the eye and let them know you stand for what is right. With politics your opponent knows you have a price that you can be bought for. Making a deal where the patient must be at the mercy of theives, says you don’t care about the patient as much as greasing someones palm. I’m not in Arizona and will not be dealing with their problem, but when it comes time for planning Kentucky’s future, the restrictions on growing will be something that will be looked at based on what was done in the past. If they kept the right to grow in the mix then they would look at how it worked in other states and see that the sky did not fall. Is this flawed thinking? When we pay our dues, shouldn’t MPP or NORML or LEAP or any other organization we support fight for our rights? Or do we work for them?
Nesomania #14 & R.O.E. #22
Our constitution is barely treading water. I wish there was a better place for this, but I’ll borrow MPP in the meantime. (thanks)
by the way, best story and comments I’ve read on here in awhile. I think it’s an extremely interesting and important discussion–the perspectives of English and Americans regarding the oppression of enlightened thinking.
Which brings me back to Jefferson. We have certainly fallen off the path of enlightened thinking that Jefferson envisioned for our land and countrymen. It’s tragedy at it’s best to be alive and watching the powers that be work to oppress and marginalize the people they claim to want to help and protect. Law enforcement doesn’t work to protect and serve, they are the herders that keep us apathetic and afraid. I guess,…I’m glad to see some posts recognizing some of the dynamics of what is going on. While people can be quick to give you flack for any mention of New World Orders, it’s amazing how it certainly is connected to marijuana and prohibition. The CIA knows drugs like no other organization in history. Why? Ask the people who started the organization. You can start with the Rockefellers. The secret experiments that the CIA has, and continues, to be involved with (just last week, Karzai’s brother-opium kingpin in southern Afghanistan-on CIA payroll for 8 yrs…) are at best insulting. The fact that we have willingly been sold mind persuasion boxes, if I may?:), televisions, and love to ‘kill’ time while our country kills our freedoms and rights as free beings…. It feels like a cruel joke. But hey, they’ll give us marijuana if we let them take our land, liberty, and happiness…leaving us with only our life’s pursuit of happiness. Good luck and God bless us. I sure feel lonely here in Florida. Missing my San Diego brothers and sisters. Still thinking of you all. Don’t buy the lie.
It’s just so wrong for him to be fired. He sounds fired up and recruiting new people to follow and quit. Marc Emery in jail, I am starting to see a pattern here.
I just need to say that I am getting tired of seeing people speak negatively of the association MPP has to the initiative here in AZ. If you don’t live here, then you may not fully understand the fight MPP has had to do here. This is a very conservative state, and it seems to be getting more and more conservative despite the horrendous situation that AZ is in.
Arizona is a state that requires smaller steps than other states, so post your viewpoint but step off the conspiracy crap. I have fought too long and too hard just to help get to the situation we are in now, and I am not about to throw it away because we appear greedy in the eyes of the prohibitionists!
Bigger noises every day are being made. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were in the beginning stages of a revolution.
Most people are failing to recognize that “we” are more aware of what the g’ment is and is not doing more than ever before.
If you think for one minute, and when the sheeple finally wake up, that this will be tolerated you’re sadly mistaken.
These scientists are brave souls and from their example many will follow.
Love you MPP, kiss, hug, kiss, hug. (I can say this because I’m a girl).
Hey, where’s JJ? JJ: you o.k?
I think it is rather fortunate luck that the situation in the U.K. is occurring so close to tomorrows vote in Breckenridge, CO to legalize marijuana and paraphernalia. The outcome of these situations could be the crack that breaks the dam!
Whatever happens, this is the most exciting time to be involved in legalizing cannabis!
(Of course, on the news right now they are talking about too much leniency on prosecuting teen drug smugglers…sometimes I really hate this state (AZ))
(Of course, on the news right now they are talking about too much leniency on prosecuting teen drug smugglers…sometimes I really hate this state (AZ))
Hummmm….if there were no prohibition, there wouldnt be teen drug smugglers,you wouldnt be listeening to it , I wouldnt be typing this…….hummmmm
I think that in todays world its bad that there is no such thing as free speech!
I agree that the USA runs global drug policy. Our politicians kowtow to everything whether its Iraq, Afghanistan or Cannabis, they just meekly follow the US lead. So I look to Obama a man oif evident great sense and wisdom. Listen, if he said one word in favour of cannabis the whole world would rush to agree.
http://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/drug-crazed-politicians-promote-crime-and-misery/#comments
The world was believed to be flat at one time also. Change will come and it has arrived. Slowly, but we are getting the facts and laws are changing. One day cannabis will be declared legal. Science cannot be disproven and even my 12 year old son knows cannabis is the safest drug on the planet. Breckenridge will today set the standard for all of America. COOL! Keep tokin and overgrow big bro.
“He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy.”
Why not?
“Professor Nutt was not sacked for his views, which I respect but disagree with,” Johnson wrote in today’s Guardian. “He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy.”
Uhhhhhhhhhh, if your job is to help shape and advise government policy, than by doing what he was, he is just doing what he was hired to do, right?
Here in the U.S. I was always told, if you disagree, then work to make people see your point of view. Seems to me that is exactly what he was doing. Working peacefully, to change and reform laws that are unjust and unfair.
He was fired for standing against the status quot, and having a opinion based on sound fact and reasoning.
Believe me in this country we have far from sensible talks about drugs,otherwise this issue would have been done long long ago
In regards to the Arizona MM bill. If MPP made the bill to appease the conservatives in the state, then how do they think the conservatives will feel about dispensaries? With all the negative press coming out of California in regards to their blooming dispensary businesses, I would think that anything dispensary related (in a bill) may just have the opposite affect on the conservatives VS allowing the patient to grow their own.
I live in Arizona, I would say 8 out of every 10 people I meet are originally from California. Most folks that leave their home state for another, typically keep up with current events in their old home town. At this point, the dispensaries in the news are typically painted in a negative way. This is why I question whether the dispensary route is the right route (no pun intended). We can only hope so.
I also question the part that only allows one dispensary per every 10 pharmacies. It seems this could allow a near monopoly of the market, if someone with resources and know how is currently getting all of their cards in place. The prices at dispensaries are far too expansive for the typical hard working Arizonan. If this gets passed, I urge any Arizonan’s to get out and push their town to ban dispensaries, this will allow the sick people to grow their own. Is there something in the bill to allow caregivers? I ask because I realize quite a few people don’t have green thumbs, or will be to sick to tend a garden.
In my opinion, a bill with far fewer restrictions, would have had just as much a chance of passing, as the current bill, if not more. The last poll I saw showed support around 65% for a medical marijuana law. Adding so many restrictions and such to the bill, I feel will only allow more points for the haters to attack, as the bill gets closer to voting time.
With that said, I fully support any kind of changes to Arizona’s current antiquated marijuana laws. As November 2010 gets closer, I will push everyone I know to vote for this bill, I know lots of conservatives. Thank you MPP for all the hard work and resources spent on this important policy change!
maybe the brits are going about this all wrong maybe the professers need to run for office then they can cut out the politicos save the country lots of money and having a sane policy
kents got a point the world would make soo much more sense of things if scientists replaced politicians.atleast the political arguements would make more sense and our advancement as a people wouldn’t be who could grease whos plams more but to advance things for the benefit of humankind
Sadly, these few true scientists who are speaking the truth will be replaced by prohibitionist liars. I’m sorry to see reasonable minds not present in government. It may have been better had they stayed put to at least temper the opinions of the prohibitionist liars that will remain in office.
We The People..rember that line when we go to the voting booth or the jury box ..
Rember they work for us..Iff you are not doing your job then you will be fired well what is the problem..they are not doing their jobs let’s get rid of them .
People get it together (WE THE PEOPLE) are their employers hold their feet to the fire
The powers that be will not go quietly well that’s to bad we need to stand together and make things happen
I like what MPP is doing now but I want to see them doing more
Professor Nutt presents the argument around cannabis and the advice the government got, from those on the ACMD and those (as equally qualified as him)-outside it, as being clear, a black or white decision. this is very far from the truth and profoundly unscientific. It is misleading of the public he chose to serve. The ACMD was not unanimous, other advisors such as the National Director of Mental Health or Professor Robin Murray
(who has said Professor Nutt played fast & loose with the statistics) do not agree with him. In the recent debate Professor Nutt has not explained the evidence the ACMD heard about the changing nature of some cannabis, the lack of CBD (believed to be an anti-psychotic). So in my view Professor Nutt has been unscientifically selective to validate his own noisiness on what was a marginal decision. Government had to be cautious. Yes they should have explained why better. Perhaps that will
be the one good thing to come out of this affair. The Professor could though, choose his words more wisely, young people make life changing decisions about taking drugs against a backdrop of culture and media comment. Has Professor Nutt helped the culture or hindered it? His campaigning against government policy was certainly incompatible with his role. Advisors propose, governments dispose.
“they’ll rue the Day they sacked this Nutt! …. it will be remembered as the Great Nutt Sack”
PRICELESS.
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