The big drug stories of the year: A view to progress and ending the drug war?

This year progress to end the drug war has been uneven. Let’s lead with the most important story of all, but finish with some optimism.

30,000 People dead in Mexico[1]

Not from taking drugs. Not because they were killed by people on drugs. They are dead because of the violence that comes with prohibition. Enough said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12012425

Mephedrone

In April this year, Mephedrone was banned – adding another drug to the ‘controlled’ list on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971[2] (MoDA). It is now a Class B substance.

Actually the banning of the drug isn’t the real story. The ban was mostly due to the deaths of two boys in Scarborough, or rather the media campaign that followed those deaths. [3] – Yet the toxicology reports said that the boys in question had not taken Mephedrone at all.[4]

What is also interesting is how people continue to refer to drugs not ‘controlled’ by the MoDA, excluding Tobacco and Alcohol, as ‘so-called legal highs.’  Well they are either legal or they are not, surely? Maybe drugs that are ‘controlled’ by the MoDA should be referred to as ‘so-called controlled’. It sure isn’t Government and the Police that are controlling them, but criminal thugs.

Proposition 19

California voted on a measure to allow the recreational use of Cannabis within the state. The vote was close, but Californians voted No.[5] Drug warriors around the world may be relieved but campaigners for reform say they will be back with another measure in November 2012. Optimism surrounds the ballet in two years time when campaigners argue that more young voters will appear for the presidential election. What is clear is that campaigners will need to have an argument ready to counter White House and Federal Government claims they will any ballot measure from California and continue to prosecute recreational users and suppliers under Federal Law. Personally, I don’t believe the Federal Government will have enough resources to achieve this: but watch this space.

Dr David Nutt

Sacked in 2009 as head of the ACMD, from a drug-warrior perspective it must seem that this man just refuses to go away. He has now formed the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs,[6][7] which published a report[8] that argued alcohol is more dangerous than ecstasy. This report has gained international recognition[9], and therefore deserves to be listed as a significant moment in the Drug War this year. This case highlights that with global communications, anyone that opposes the drug war has brothers and sisters abroad.

Bob Ainsworth and the ‘new’ 2010 strategy from the UK Coalition

Bob Ainsworth was brave in coming out and speaking against prohibition. Not in the way Civil Servants use the word ‘brave’ (‘that is a very brave policy minister’: for brave read stupid). No, he was brave because he knew the exact response he would receive from the media. The Coalition’s drug strategy[10] is not actually new at all. It is still prohibitionist, with added rhetoric borrowed from the most zealous of US Drug War Warriors. Nancy Reagan, for example, asked children to ‘Just Say No’[11] in the 1980s. Drugs are still with us.

It is however, very good to see that the former Secretary of Defence, and previous to the that the former Minister in charge of Drug Policy, stand up and admit we need to change direction.

I urge anyone that agrees to Drug Policy Reform to sign up and support Bob. He needs our help if we are to make the changes necessary.

Nb for those of you that cannot see the video: it is of Nancy Reagan at the 1988 Baseball World Series. Funny, as I’m pretty sure Baseball isn’t drug free – I could be wrong, but Baseball loving friends of mine have told me different.

More to follow on the UK’s 2010 drug strategy at a later date.

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[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12012425

[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8623958.stm

[3] http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/5422045._Legal_high__mephedrone_to_be_banned_following_a_campaign_by_The_Press/

[4] http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/may/28/mephedrone-cleared-teenage-uk-deaths

[5] http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/03/local/la-me-pot-20101103-1

[6] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuu1F3krWrI

[7] http://www.drugscience.org.uk/

[8] http://www.drugscience.org.uk/drugharmpaper.html

[9] http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20021311-10391704.html

[10] http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/drugs/drug-strategy/drug-strategy-2010?view=Binary

[11] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fG1tNO0_Pk&feature=related