tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post3668325928537575072..comments2023-09-20T11:15:28.673+01:00Comments on Transform Drug Policy Foundation Blog: Gordon Brown responds to Transform's call for Impact Assessmentjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263261726046054614noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-8978825015163942852010-01-19T16:40:53.470+00:002010-01-19T16:40:53.470+00:00The UN drug conventions excuse does not wash.
Th...The UN drug conventions excuse does not wash. <br /><br />The 1961 drug convention was itself a consolidation of previous treaties because a messy framework had developed and it was thought that it needed improvement and strengthening. The 1971 convention was an attempt to fill a later recognised gap. The 1988 convention was designed to try and address another concern (though largely a result of the previous two) – trafficking. <br /><br />And of course the 1972 protocol to the 1961 treaty amended that treaty for those states that ratified it. <br />There is nothing about these conventions that disallows discussion of their amendment except the political nuisance of it. That’s a big hurdle, but not a brick wall.HR2https://www.blogger.com/profile/00912954878277286954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-6721362612236436692010-01-15T09:10:41.691+00:002010-01-15T09:10:41.691+00:00You could bring this request to a Parliamentary C&...You could bring this request to a Parliamentary C'tee - as Drug Equality Alliance keep saying, NEITHER PARLIAMENT NOR THE COURTS ARE BOUND BY THESE TREATIES. Clearly Brown's statement is against the spirit of the Act in that the Ac was supposed to evolve and in that regard, you cannot say absolutely what future policy might be. Cameron and Grayling are extremely backward on this - we have to use the courts. Darryl BicklerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-86771046425888796792010-01-15T07:56:12.659+00:002010-01-15T07:56:12.659+00:00To be honest, this is starting to sound more like ...To be honest, this is starting to sound more like a conspiracy than a policy. I can't think if any other policy area that isn't up for debate and isn't subjected to some kind of cost/benefit analysis.<br /><br />Brown will be gone soon, but as you say Cameron's Tories are looking no better - and not just on this issue, it really is quite depressing to have a vote but no-one to vote for.<br /><br />From a personal point of view, I never expected any different from the Tories, but I did have hopes for "New Labour" back in 1997. In this as in other areas though, they were more than a disappointment.Derek Williamshttp://www.ukcia.org/wordpress/index.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-81084365828509395812010-01-14T23:07:48.462+00:002010-01-14T23:07:48.462+00:00Stop spending OUR money on policies that we DON...Stop spending OUR money on policies that we DON'T want and that DON'T work.<br />This unbelievably unproffesional response shows this government is turning more into a dicatatorship as each day passes.<br />Gordon Brown is more bothered about looking tough on crime than the people he is meant to be representing. <br />For god's sake, people are dying drug mafia wars in places like Mexico as a direct result of prohibition, yet he would rather this continue.<br />It's at times like these when you know who the real criminals are.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05508134478728308100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-10727359295511060652010-01-14T13:53:59.503+00:002010-01-14T13:53:59.503+00:00There is something extraordinary about the way he ...There is something extraordinary about the way he states that we cant look at alternative approaches/legal frameworks because, re the UN, we are signed up to an exiting legal framework. Thats is quite bizarre when you think about it. <br /><br />The UN specifically does not rule out decrim of persoanl use as adopted by the Portugal, whom are signatories to the same treaties as us. <br /><br />But more to the point - if it is the Government's evidence based view that legal regulation of supply would be the best option then it is there moral duty to work towards reforming the conventions so as to allow that extra flexibility. Its a desperate and unprincipled cop out. This is explored in the appendix of Transform's recent Blueprint document that Brown references but clearly hasn't read. <br /><br />Our briefing to Brown, incidentally, does not specify unilateral action and infact specifically calls for the Government to lead and impact assessment at internatiuonal level. the way forward is spelt out very clearly in blueprint. So his comment about an insular view is a ridiculous, if unintentional self parody.Steve Rolleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487781869462634203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-77423738063583903872010-01-14T13:45:36.828+00:002010-01-14T13:45:36.828+00:00the Home Office describe current policy as prohibi...the Home Office describe current policy as prohibition in the 2002 drug strategy and have used it eleswhere - in various briefings and letters. Good to hear it from the premier though.Steve Rolleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487781869462634203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-42022526165053359142010-01-14T13:02:16.677+00:002010-01-14T13:02:16.677+00:00This is why we must ask if the government are actu...This is why we must ask if the government are actually fulfilling their obligations under the MDA and the Human Rights Act. Clearly if they are fettering their discretion there is no room for debate or flexibility. Such flexibility was certainly in mind when the 71 Act was enacted - this was the will of Parliament and this trumps the International Treaties and Conventions if these are at odds with the objects and purposes of the law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-19778551690492096732010-01-14T12:47:29.446+00:002010-01-14T12:47:29.446+00:00I had a reply from the Home office stating that &q...I had a reply from the Home office stating that "Drugs would never be legalised". Makes you sick to think that the government would rather hand the complete market over to the criminal element other than control it themselves. Complete and utter nonsense. How can they live with themselves. My reply to them was...How do you know this to be true? You can't can you?Nikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00279872258322890311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-59877701702864655262010-01-14T09:27:13.124+00:002010-01-14T09:27:13.124+00:00Well you have succeeded in getting the British PM ...Well you have succeeded in getting the British PM to use the term 'prohibition' to describe the current policy - is that a first?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-10088514947467046782010-01-13T19:22:20.628+00:002010-01-13T19:22:20.628+00:00i hope you are planning to publish this report in ...i hope you are planning to publish this report in the papers- saying why the prime minister is so wrong in his views as you have done above. Anyone who reads this surely must question the current drug laws, and we need many many people to question prohibition before any action towards leglaisation can be taken. get it on television too - we need to open people's eyes!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05508134478728308100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-74766205718350993402010-01-13T17:51:02.576+00:002010-01-13T17:51:02.576+00:00I will be sure to let my MP know that the governme...I will be sure to let my MP know that the government's continued refusal to even discuss alternatives to prohibition is a large proportion of why I will not vote Labour in this GE, and I encourage anyone who feels the same to do so.<br /><br />The appointment of Les Iversen doesn't even get me that excited, as I'm sure Alan Johnson will have made sure that he will not rock the boat before appointing him. Then again, maybe Johnson knows they're on the way out and just wants to give the Tories something to deal with, maybe test old Bully Dave's resolve...Pastoriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00035484259908542410noreply@blogger.com