More Scientists Resign

The Professor Nutt case has been interesting to follow. Professor David Nutt was fired by Alan Johnson because it was concluded that the Professor was attempting to change policy, he has been "...saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine." according to the BBC. He is of course, absolutely correct. Both alcohol and tobacco have been proven to have very damaging effects on the human body, both in the long and short term; whilst cannabis has been proven to, after very heavy use (over 5 joints a day for 10 years), damage the hippocampus and amygdales in the brain by a small amount (although that is one, very small case study). Other claims regarding cannabis use have been greatly debated, with no definite conclusion reached.

It has been concluded that although the Government like to pretend that they rely on scientists for advice on subjects which Politicians themselves tend to have no expertise, they instead frequently disregard information provided and base policy on populist and often incorrect views.

Alan Johnson has again come under fire today after the resignation of a further three scientific advisers from the government's drug panel. Two other scientists from this panel resigned earlier in the week, making the total now five resignations in the two weeks following Professor Nutt's sacking. I'm glad to see the other advisers supporting Professor Nutt and realising that the Government does not take their advice seriously when making policy.

Our government needs to understand that drugs policy should be based on solid evidence. I believe that it should be within the right of any consenting adult to ingest anything they desire, as long as it does not have a negative impact on others. The campaign demonising smokers is bad enough as it is, QUANGOs funded by the government lobbying effectively against the rights of individuals who choose to smoke tobacco, but that is a different matter, which I shall hopefully address another day.