January 05

TRANSFORM NEWS
January 2005

Welcome to the first edition of Transform’s new monthly email news service. Each month Transform-News will bring you the key stories in drug policy, as well as updating you on Transform’s activities, events and ways you can get involved.

We are keen to develop this service so please send any suggestions and feedback to Transform News to info@tdpf.org.uk . Please also forward this newsletter to friends or colleagues and encourage them to sign up.

2005 is so far proving to be a busy year - with much happening in both the national and international drug policy world. In Britain the government have just released a hastily thrown together drugs bill in which minimal
consultation has taken place, just in time for the forthcoming election.… (see below). Across the pond we have the second term of George Bush’s government making things hell for various sections so the UN, not to mention
drug-producing countries around the world. (also below) However all is not doom and gloom, and on the back of a successful launch of our Report and a damning critique of the above bill, Transform are ensuring that these issues are not left unreported. (see below)
Contents
1. UK News
 Drugs Bill goes through Parliament
 Drugs Testing in Schools
 Drug news links

2. International News
 UN leaked letter
 Israel decriminilises ecstasy
 International links

3. TDPF
 Media
 Website
 Publications
 Up and coming projects

1. UK NEWS

 Parliament and Whitehall - New Drugs Bill *

A raft of new drug legislation was announced in the Queens speech in November 04. The Bill itself was published mid December and contains aseries of clauses:
 To establish a presumption that certain quantities of given drugs, if found in the possession of an individual, constitute ‘intent to supply’.

 To enable police to use x-ray or ultrasound scans on individuals suspected of swallowing illegal drugs. Refusal of consent for such a check can count against a defendant in court.

 To enable police to hold individuals suspected of swallowing drugs in detention for 192 hours (currently 96 hours) prior to charge.

 To enable police to test suspected offenders for Class A drugs on arrest for a ‘trigger’ offence (currently testing can only proceed on charge).
Tests will be authorised by an officer of at least Inspector Rank who has reasonable grounds to suspect that the alleged offence was linked to misuseof a Class A drug. Refusal to take the test will be a criminal offence. A positive test will result in a mandatory assessment, and mandatory follow up assessment. Failure to attend these assessments will be a criminal offence with a fine or maximum 3 month prison term.
 Fresh ‘magic’ mushrooms (containing Psilocin or esters of Psilocin) will be included as a Class A drug, alongside ‘prepared’ mushrooms.

Links to the legislation and back up documentation are here:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_16_12_04.htm
In Transform’s view, shared by others including Drugscope, Release and treatment agency Turning Point, the Bill is ill thought out, overly criminal justice focused, violates basic civil rights, and fails to respond to the real needs being expressed in the drugs field. Transform believe that it is largely election-time tough-talking law and order populism, most of which is likely to be ineffectual or actively counterproductive, and we have been actively lobbying MP’s and Lords to scrap or amend the Bill as it makes its way through the enactment process.
To read Transform’s detailed, clause by clause analysis of the Bill (in word or pdf format) visit:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_14_01_05.htm
Transform’s briefing was mentioned no less than 17 times at the Standing Committee phase!

Random drug testing in schools
The other drug policy issue that has been high on the UK political and media agenda this month is random drug testing in schools. Although it did not feature in the new Drugs Bill, Tony Blair announced his intention to roll out the policy in an exclusive interview with the News of the World early in 2004. The issue leapt back into the media following the recent announcement that Abbey School in Kent would be the first in the UK to have random testing of pupils. The programme is being sponsored by the test manufacturers and none other than the News of the World.
Read more on this issue here;
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_PressReleases_05.01.05.htm

Other sources of UK drug news:
http://www.dailydose.net - daily news links, and searchable news archive
http://www.thehempire.com - cannabis news, free monthly news email.

2. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US attacks global harm reduction initiatives
A leaked letter from Antonio Costa, head of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to Mr Robert B. Charles, Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the US Department of State, has shocked the drugs community across the world by revealing how pressure currently being brought to bear on the UN drug agencies by the US is undermining a range of harm reduction programmes. Initiatives under threat from the new Bush Administration include needle exchanges, drug consumption rooms and substitute prescribing.
A copy of the leaked letter and links to further analysis and discussion are available here:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_25_01_05.htm

Israel
The possession of up to five Ecstasy tablets will be designated “for personal use” and will not result in an indictment - check out the rest of the story here:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_14_10_04.htm

International Links
Media Awareness Project - searchable global drug-news archive
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/index.htm
Detailed briefings on UN and International drug policy
http://www.tni.org/drugs/

3. TRANSFORM DRUG POLICY FOUNDATION NEWS

Media
January 2005 has been something of a landmark month for Transform.
Danny Kushlick, Transform director appeared in the BBC 2 ‘If drugs were legal’ programme broadcast on January the 12th, which also featured Francis Wilkinson, Transform Patron and former Chief Constable of Gwent. The programme was a combination of a drama, set in a future where drugs were legal, with talking head commentaries from experts on either side of the debate. Sadly the drama was overblown, confusing, unrealistic and, all told, rather poor, detracting from the more interesting dialogue between supporters and opponents of legalisation.
More positively, the ‘If’ programme was followed by a half hour Newsnight special which saw Jeremy Paxman hosting a debate on the issue in which Danny Kushlick was joined by MEP and former humanitarian affairs commissioner Emma Benino arguing for legalisation, against former Drug Czar Keith Hellawell and Andrew Johns, forensic psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital, defending prohibition. Despite its faults (it was polarised, lacked depth and was not helped by Paxman’s aggressive style) the debate proved a useful public airing for the issues Transform is trying to raise, and feedback on Danny’s contribution from supporters and the wider public has been overwhelmingly positive.
The Newsnight debate is available to watch online at the BBC website here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/if/4075235.stm#NN (slower internet connections may struggle)

January 05 Transform Media Log
 Francis Wilkinson (Transform Patron, and former Chief Constable of Gwent) appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme (05.01.05) to discuss drug testing in schools (see UK news above).

 Danny Kushlick was interviewed about drug testing in schools on Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show (05.01.05)
 Steve Rolles (Transform Information Officer) was interviewed about the futility of the latest police crackdown on drug dealers on Sky News (12.01.05).
 Transform have also done interviews on Radio Leeds, Spin 1038 (Dublin), RTE (Ireland).
 Transform have had work published in ‘Drug and Alcohol News’ (comment on the new Drugs Bill), ‘London Drug Action Network’ news (review of BBCs Drugland series), Italy’s ‘Fuori Luogo’ newspaper (About the new ‘After the war on drugs’ report), and the Financial Times (comment on the public health impact of drug law reform following an editorial calling for legalisation).

For advice on raising awareness through the media see the new ‘What you can do page’ on the TDPF site here;
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Parliament_WhatYouCanDo.htm

Website
Along with the regular updates to parliament, news, and link sections, new pages include:
Charities Aid Foundation Online Giving service:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/AboutUs_TdpfFunding.htm
Please support Transform by making a donation at our secure online donation page administered by the Charities Aid Foundation. We will be setting up a facility to establish a regular direct debit (via CAF) in February, but in the mean time a standing order form is available from the above page. Please give generously - we need your support. (Transform relies solely on donations from individuals and charitable trusts to maintain its work)
Transform action guide:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Parliament_WhatYouCanDo.htm
Drug Bill 2005 briefing:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_14_01_05.htm
Updated Magic Mushroom briefing:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Policy_General_Mushrooms.htm
Coming soon: Transform discussion forum:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/bb/
The Transform discussion forum has been online since mid 2004 as an invitation only forum for attendees of recent Transform seminars. It will be opened up to the wider public in the coming month. Details to be announced.

PUBLICATIONS
*After the War on Drugs - Options for Control*
A major new report examining the key themes in the drug policy reform debate, detailing how legal regulation of drug markets will operate, and providing a roadmap and time line for reform. Launched October 12th 2004 updated and reprinted December 2004, second update and reprint January 2005.
The report can be downloaded as a pdf from
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Policy_General_AftertheWaronDrugsReport.htm
For printed copies please contact fran@tdpf.org.uk
“I congratulate Transform on this admirable report. I just hope that, this time, the authorities will listen to the voice of reason. All too often clear evidence that present policies simply are not working, and will not work, has been ignored, with the result that a preventable situation is being perpetuated. I particularly like the clear and sensible pathway for the way ahead to which, also. I hope that due attention will be paid”.
Sir David Ramsbotham, former Chief Inspector of Prisons
For more comments on the report see above webpage

Coming Soon: The Transform Prohibition and Crime Project
Transform is preparing a major project for 2005 to examine and publicise the links between prohibition and the creation of crime and to explore the possibilities for significant reductions in crime at all scales through law reform and regulated drug markets. An introductory briefing exploring some of these themes has been produced by Transform for a recent Turning Point conference on drugs and crime (the content reflecting the target audience in the drug treatment community). A series of more detailed briefings on prohibition and crime are being produced in the coming year and will be made available on this page. The Turning Point conference briefing can be read here:
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Policy_Crime_DrugsandCrime-TheLinkisProhibition.htm

For all these stories and more see: www.tdpf.org.uk
Transform is a registered charity no: 1100518
The organisations, agencies, and information linked from www.tdpf.org.uk represent a variety of viewpoints from across the drug policy field.
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