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Chief drug adviser fired for marijuana safety claims
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While many people in the U.S. are simply awaiting to see the outcome of legalizing marijuana in all 50 states, it appears the U.K. is having their own issues with acceptance of the drug, and the information provided to the public of its effects.
According to The Independent U.K., Professor David Nutt, the Government's chief drug adviser, was forced to resign today after attacking politicians for their decision to make cannabis a class b drug, and misleading the public by "distorting and devaluing" scientific research.
In a lecture and briefing paper for the Center for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College, London, Professor Nutt insisted that smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness, and it was "not that harmful" a drug compared to alcohol. He suggested that all drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, should be ranked by a "harm" index, he said, with alcohol coming fifth behind cocaine, heroin, barbiturates, and methadone.
Tobacco should rank ninth, ahead of cannabis, LSD and ecstasy, he said.
"My view is policy should be based on evidence and I would have thought most politicians, when they have a chance to make policy based on evidence, that would actually be something they would enjoy doing."
Professor Nutt had a lot to say concerning the classification of drugs and its various effects, and he expressed his unwillingness to confuse the public by going against scientific evidence when relaying information.
However, despite Professor Nutt being the chief drug adviser, his advice was not taken kindly. As a result, a spokesman for the Government asked him to step down, claiming his job was to "provide independent advice not lobby for changes in policy."
Could the Government possibly have suggested that he was stupid by devaluing his educated opinion?
A spokesman said: "The home secretary has asked Professor Nutt to resign as chair of the ACMD.
"In a letter he expressed surprise and disappointment over Professor Nutt's comments which damage efforts to give the public clear messages about the dangers of drugs.
"As chair of the council his actions undermine its role and scientific independence.
"We fully support the work of the ACMD and remain committed to considering the independent advice and evidence it and other advisory bodies provide to the Government.
"However, the clear role of the chair of the ACMD is to provide independent scientific advice and not to lobby for changes in policy.
"We remain determined to crack down on all illegal substances and minimise their harm to health and society as a whole."
In his letter Mr. Johnson said Professor Nutt had gone beyond providing evidence to "lobbying" for changes to policy.
"As chair of the ACMD you cannot avoid appearing to implicate the council in your comments and thereby undermining its scientific independence," he wrote.
"As Home Secretary it is for me to make decisions, having received advice from the ACMD.
"It is vitally important that the public understand the council's role and also understand what the Government is trying to achieve.
"It is important that the Government's messages on drugs are clear and as an adviser you do nothing to undermine the public understanding of them.
"As my lead adviser on drugs harms I am afraid the manner in which you have acted runs contrary to your responsibilities.
"I cannot have public confusion between scientific advice and policy and have therefore lost confidence in your ability to advise me as chair of the ACMD.
"I would therefore ask you to step down from the council with immediate effect."
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