tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post3248338345248673603..comments2023-09-20T11:15:28.673+01:00Comments on Transform Drug Policy Foundation Blog: ACPO's baffling u-turn on cannabis classificationjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263261726046054614noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-85601107685773798452008-10-01T13:48:00.000+01:002008-10-01T13:48:00.000+01:00I agree with Mr anonymous above ^^^ you know what,...I agree with Mr anonymous above ^^^ you know what, if they made it legal, and even sold it like normal smokes over the counter then the government would save millions on policing the crap.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, what harm does it do if everyone drives their cars around at 1kmph, its FAR better than people drink driving and getting even more aggressive in public, which imho is more of a problem.<BR/><BR/>If the government wants tax fine, im sure that if it was a boxed product most people would just buy it over the counter anyway and they would still get their tax.<BR/><BR/>Look at it this way, the US spend billions of $$$ each year just stopping drugs from mexico, if they just made it all legal people wouldn't get their drugs from dealers but from nice boxed packages from the local chemist. On top of that, half the people wouldn't do it because its now legal, the kids would see how much it f**ks people up and not do it, and all the drug lords would go out of business.. its really a win-win situation.<BR/><BR/>Back to reality, who are we to comment im sure that the government is more than happy to keep throwing money (our money) into a bottomless pit trying to solve a problem that will never be solved their way.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09697326179112793684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-45021212227343229802008-05-12T22:30:00.000+01:002008-05-12T22:30:00.000+01:00Cannabis is a plant. How can a plant be against th...Cannabis is a plant. How can a plant be against the law in the first place? It is ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>Am i the only one who has notices the government makes no profit from cannabis. A drug which has killed...NOBODY. The government does however make a nice profit from alcohol, the NUMBER 1 killing drug.<BR/>But i suppose that's OK because it is legal and is therefore "socially acceptable".<BR/><BR/>Cannabis is a mind altering drug. This can be a good thing, and fun.<BR/>But the mind which is being altered must be developed enough to understand. Which is why it should not be used by young people.<BR/><BR/>Legalize cannabis and give it an acceptable age limit. Reclassify it to B would be a very dumb move.<BR/><BR/>Also there are people out there who do drugs because they want to / don't want to and that is a personal choice. Then there are people who do drugs BECAUSE they're illegal.<BR/><BR/>Whenever a cannabis farm is discovered or the PLANT itself is talked about there is nobody saying what harm it has done. They simply say things like "cannabis is an illegal drug and is widely used, we need to show people this kind of action is unacceptable" So everyone PLEASE remind me never to buy a house with a garden.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-64279520106521687812007-11-21T21:56:00.000+00:002007-11-21T21:56:00.000+00:00I suppose cannabis is focused on because its posit...I suppose cannabis is focused on because its position is most clearly anomalous. It is among the less harmful substances, disproportionately punished, widely used. <BR/><BR/>It most clearly brings out the hypocrisies, the dishonesties, the unspoken assumptions.<BR/><BR/>If you want to break up a structure, going for a big weak element is often an effective approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-58980422390460805222007-11-21T15:47:00.000+00:002007-11-21T15:47:00.000+00:00Hi BernieI don't really know what Brown is think i...Hi Bernie<BR/><BR/>I don't really know what Brown is think ing although I'm quite sure it is more to do with moral posturing and political positioning regards the Tories than it is about about effective policy making. <BR/><BR/>The ACMD, to their credit, when they actually address a given question are thorough and creditably independent. They are certainly not shy of critiquing populist government activity or challenging sacred cows as recent reports have shown. So i dont think they will have been 'nobbled' by government - there are far to many independent experts in their ranks. There would be mass resignations before that happened. I do have problems with some of the questions the ACMD dont address (like the efficacy of the classification system and prohibition more generally) but I dont think their advice on classification will be compromised. I suspect ACPO, for various reasons, are more susceptible to government pressure. <BR/><BR/>For the Government to over-rule the ACMD would take us into unchartered territory. Judicial reviews would be a possibility, resignations a certainty - and such blatant politicisation of nominally scientific and independent decision making would be expose the government to massive criticism and embarrassment. It is this exposure that I think makes it unlikely. I think Brown and team probably know the ACMD decision will likely be to maintain C. They can then say they have done the right thing in terms of responding to concerns, make some announcements about a big health education campaign (probably a good plan anyway) and leave things untouched whilst avoiding the worst of the political fall out. <BR/><BR/>My boredom with this issue doesn't reflect a lack of seriousness. Its more that i'm incredulous it is still such a massive issue, when there are far bigger crises in drug policy here and around the world that receive a fraction of the attention.Steve Rolleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487781869462634203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-2042663520229369002007-11-21T14:29:00.000+00:002007-11-21T14:29:00.000+00:00Hi Steve,I'm certainly not bored by the cannabis r...Hi Steve,<BR/><BR/>I'm certainly not bored by the cannabis reclassification farce, and I don't imagine I'm unique.<BR/><BR/>Think about how many people use the stuff, or their children do. I'd like to suggest that you might rethink your attitude to what is going on. <BR/><BR/>Like you, I have been wondering how the ACMD are going to respond if their recommendations are ignored or over-ruled. You suggest that this might cause serious problems for the government. Wouldn't that provide a great opportunity for Transform? Might it not open the way for formal action against the government for maladministration? After all taxpayers pay for the ACMD. <BR/><BR/>Do you think Brown has thought this through or not? It would seem astonishing if he hasn't. Has he somehow fixed the ACMD in advance? <BR/><BR/>I wrote to the ACMD Chairman about this weeks ago, but haven't had the courtesy of a reply or even an acknowledgement. You are better placed than me to get some answers from him and other members of the council. Maybe you should be working now on tactics and strategy for the next few months, in preparation for the government's actions in the new year. <BR/><BR/>Take cannabis more seriously. It is the most widely used illegal substance, and the government are currently trying to make it more illegal. If we could succeed in getting it dealt with in a rational and just way, that could lead on to a more rational and just treatment of all drugs. <BR/><BR/>Best wishes, and sincere thanks for all the fine work you do.<BR/><BR/>Bernie RAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com