Monday 2 November 2009

Re-instate Professor David Nutt

At the weekend I came across an article that grabbed my attention in the Guardian. I learned that Alan Johnson, the home secutary, had sacked Professor David Nutt, chief drug advisor to the government, due to his stance on cannabis reclassification.


Nutt who was appointed by the government, and is unpaid I might add, has excellent scientific credentials and is very well respected in his field. Nutt was a part of the ACMD - (Independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) which brings together independent experts from fields such as medicine, narcotics, psychology, policing and social work, who's reports are based on the evidence on how to minimise the harm that drugs cause, taking into account, societal harm, crime, addiction and personal health to mame a few, so I would hazard a guess at saying they know their stuff, I don't think the same could be said of the government.

Based on scientific research, which Gordon Brown chose to ignore, Nutt argues that cannabis should remain a Class C drug and not be reclassified to Class B.

Brown's government is the first to ignore the ACMD's advice and it is the first time an ACMD chairman has been sacked, which I believe speaks volumes about the government which is leading our country today.

In my opinion Brown has chose to ignore scientists that he himself appointed and even to go as far as to sack someone who dared to hold an opposing view to that of his own, to show him in a more favourable light to the public and even the media. At a time when Brown is heavily featured in the press and media in a negative light and with public opinion off him much the same, it seems to me he has used this 'stunt' to win some of that favour back that he once might of held. (Might being the operative word here.)

Are these really the actions of a democratic government when they will only listen to advice that matches their political goals. The government cannot ignore impartial scientific advice from an independent body because it doesn't match their political agenda.

I hope that the resignations of other members of the ACMD in protest for the sacking of Nutt's will force the government to re-assess how they handled this issue, (although I won't hold my breath).

Since when did having an opinion become a sackable offence? Ok so they didn't like what he said or agree with his views, but no need to sack the poor guy, just don't take his advice this time.

And now the issue has become yet another 'media snowball effect' along the lines of the Jan Moir incident, the government are defending themselves, well trying, by saying that Nutt was speaking out against government policy. All he was doing was defending his research and speaking out against when they chose to ignore it.

It seems this a pattern within government, to sack anyone who dares to speak out against them. Read this article that shows others who have had the same treatment as Professor Nutts.

I urge people reading this to make a stand to do whatever you can to get Professor David Nutt re-instated. Please join  facebook and join the group Re-instate Professor David Nutt and invite all your friends, and voice your opinions on Twitter.

It looks like this issue won't be disappearing anytime soon.