Media News > press releases > 13.06.07

For immediate release

Dear Colleague

This is to give you notice of two upcoming drug policy events:

DRUG CLASSIFICATION: MAKING A HASH OF IT?

A debate on the Committee’s Report

Thursday 14 June 2007

2.30pm-5.30pm

WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE

On Thursday 14 June there will be a debate in Westminster Hall on the Committee’s Report Drug classification: making a hash of it?. The debate is open to the public.

The debate will focus on the conclusions of the Committee’s Report, the Government’s response as well as the response received from the ACMD, and will also cover relevant recent developments. For more information see:

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_and_technology_committee/scitech220507.cfm

Transform gave evidence to the original enquiry and was quoted extensively in the final report. The main conclusion was that there is no rational scientific basis for the system of drug classification under the Misuse of

Drugs Act 1971. In a recent article Vernon Coaker, drugs minister, stated that the classification system has 'stood the test of time'. Charles Clark's commitment to conduct a consultation on the classification system was thrown into the long grass when John Reid took over as Home Secretary.

Expect a tough grilling for anyone attempting to defend the status quo.

Consultation on UK Drug Strategy

On Friday 15 June we expect the Government to publish its consultation paper on the future of the UK drug strategy. It is ten years since the appointment of Keith Hellawell and Mike Trace as Drug Czar and Deputy respectively. The self-satisfied comments from ministers in the lead up to this consultation lead us to believe that there is little if any appetite for change. This, despite the fact that the Government's own figures show that the annual £2 billion expenditure on the current strategy results in crime costs alone of £15 billion a year. So a commitment to maintaining the staus quo for the next ten years will result in up to £150 billion being spent just dealing with the collateral damage of prohibition.

Transform is leading a coallition of NGOs calling on the Government to alter course to put public health first and reduce its obsession with criminal justice approaches.

See www.drugshealthalliance.net for more information.

Contact Danny Kushlick (Director) 07970 174747

Or Steve Rolles (Information Officer) 07980 213943

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a registered charity no 1100518