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TRANSFORM NEWS March 2005 Welcome to Transform's March newsletter. This month has seen the cannabis debate rear its weary head once more with all the hype about a possible re-classification back to Class B, apparently on the basis of new evidence of links with mental illness.Inevitably. Much, if not all of this is part of the familiar pre election pantomime with the various parties vying to be the 'toughest' on drugs and crime. Transform have been busy trying to trying to inject a bit of sense and balance into this very public debate (as you will see from our media log) aswell as campaigning around the will-it-pass/wont-it-pass Drugs Bill and continuing our fundraising efforts and longer term plans to expand our capacity and staff team. Please keep your comments and ideas coming - e-mail: info@tdpf.org.uk, pass this onto your friends; subscribers can join by visiting: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Contact.htm and keep up the pressure! Thanks for reading - till April! *Contents* 1. UK News 2. International News 3. TDPF 4. What you can do ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Cannabis re-classification & mental health debate Transform's line throughout this debate has been consistent: This is been a political move by the Government to deflect accusations from the Tories (who have called for reclassification back to class B) that the Government are soft on drugs. Charles Clark is aware of two key facts - firstly that the Advisdory council will not get back to him with there response until after the election and secondly that they are unlikely to change there view of cannabis classification. They have been calling for its reclassification since the 70s and have already responded to the emerging research saying it doesn't change there views. The dangers of cannabis use are well documented - all drugs, if misused can have negative health consequences (particularly amongst young people or those with mental health problems) . The difference is that since reclassification the spotlight has been on cannabis research whereas before no-one was especially interested. The research isn't saying anything new, just affirming what we already knew. This latest ruckus is about politics not science. Transform does not dispute the claims made by the research that Clarke cites in his letter, although the conclusions and interpretations of the study results are hotly debated. The professor who led the New Zealand project told the New Zealand Herald: "These are not huge increases in risk and nor should they be, because cannabis is by no means the only thing that will determine if you suffer these symptoms". Professor Jim van Os, one of the authors of a Dutch study, was even more robust. He told the Guardian that the fact that cannabis could trigger psychosis in a small minority of people was a good reason to legalise it, not ban it. Transform acknowledge the dangers and risks involved in any drug use, and call for the regulation and control of drugs as the most effective way of minimising these risks and related harm. The Hempire have a good round up on the major thrusts of the debate: - Election & Drugs bill update As we're sure you're aware, an election date announcement is imminent, so the negative campaigning and "We're tougher than you" games have begun inearnest. The Drugs Bill is still rumbling around parliament, with its scheduled reading being 4th April at 5pm, so at the Time of writing we have no idea what will happen. Lack of legislative time may ensure that the bill will not be passed at least before the general election, but with the Pope's death and a royal wedding, a delay in announcing the election date may be sought by Government. See Transforms drug Bill information page for updates: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_14_01_05.htm - "Lets Legalise Heroin says TV Cop Alex" TV cop Alex Norton of Taggart, has called for the legalisation of heroin - in recognition of the connection between drugs and crime, following a string of burglaries at his and relatives homes. Read the full story here: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Other sources of UK drug news*: http://www.thehempire.com - cannabis news, free monthly news email. http://www.dailydose.net - daily/weekly round up of news, links and searchable news archive www.crew2000.co.uk and www.palad.org.uk - recent affiliates to Transform, and well worth a look to see related campaigns around the country. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - US WAR ON DRUGS A 'TRAGIC FAILURE' A 146-page report from the Kings County Bar Association (USA) cited in the New Scientist recommends "that the state should control production and distribution of psychoactive drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin. It has long argued that drug problems should be seen primarily as a public health issue, rather than a criminal justice problem - and hence a matter for state rather than federal government". Transform's Options for Control' report is referenced extensively (pages 28-29) in the report that concludes that the US War on Drugs that is run from Washington DC is a "tragic failure". It also discusses how the eradication and crop substitution programmes in Colombia/Afghanistan etc are failing arguing that the cost inputs versus outcomes would never be tolerated in any other public policy arena. Report: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *International Links* - Drug Policy Alliance - http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm - the US Transform. 3. TRANSFORM DRUG POLICY FOUNDATION NEWS - *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. This will predominantly be web based, and we are in the midst of creating a website…. Watch this space! 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). Read it here: *Media Log* As ever we have been working closely with various media - here is a sample of what's been going on in March: - Druglink. Danny (Transform director) featured giving his advice on Labour's drugs record since 97, what he'd like to see happen by 2008, and what he actually thinks will happen. - Steve featured on Sky News, BBC News 24, BBC World, BBC evening news, Radio 4 PM programme, Radio 1, ITN evening News, Channel 4 and Talk Radio - during a hectic day of Transform domination of the TV and Radio airwaves - all around cannabis reclassification. It was the top story and Transform were the top pundits. Great to know we have achieved this level of visibility. For advice on raising awareness through the media see below and the '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 sections include: - Drugs Bill page updates *Charities Aid Foundation Online Giving service*: Please support Transform by making a donation at our secure online donation page administered by the Charities Aid Foundation. Donations can be one off or regular. Please give generously - we need your support. (Transform relies solely on donations from individuals and charitable trusts to maintain its work) - Other things to check out: Transform action guide: Drug Bill 2005 briefing: Coming soon: Transform discussion forum: The Transform discussion forum has been online since mid 2004 as an invitation only forum for attendees of recent Transform seminars. It will be open by mid April so get in there! - we will send an announcement around with details of how to use the forums on the day. PUBLICATIONS - We recommend "Emperors of Dreams, Drugs in the Nineteenth Century" by Mike Jay - reprinted recently by Dedalus Books. - *After the War on Drugs - Options for Control* Transform's report examines 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. The report can be downloaded as a pdf from: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Policy_General_AftertheWaronDrugsReport.htm For printed copies please contact info@tdpf.org.uk **This has recently been translated into Spanish and Portuguese (which will soon be available on line), and we have had offers for translation into Portuguese and Bulgarian! - Have you contacted your MP/MEP? Start by writing to them and asking them their view on the current drug policy. Ask their opinion on the war on drugs, the fact that it isn't working and what they think should be done. They have a duty to reply, and then you can begin a dialogue. Remember always to be polite however much you may disagree with them! After the General Election get to work on your new MP. Book a visit to their surgery - you can meet with them and discuss any issue that you fancy. Contact us for help and support. - Do you know who your MP is?! Find out here: http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/ - Try writing/e-mailing your local paper or a national paper. Look out for drug related stories in newspapers (and other publications) and respond in the letters pages. Here's evidence to show it works: we promise 'DJ Welch' is not a put up job, he wrote to the Observer of his own volition: - Visit discussion forums and get involved in debates - post links to Transform web resources - this will help raise our profile on search sites like Google. If you find online discussion forums where people are discussing drug policy - send us the links and we will include them in the next newsletter.
- Oh and of course please pass this onto your friends - subscribers can join by visiting: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Contact.htm
For other ideas and more details on what you can do see : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all these stories and more see: www.tdpf.org.uk Transform Drug Policy Foundation 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. Transform is not responsible for the contents of sites linked on this newsletter, and does not automatically endorse linked information. Any suggested additions or corrections please email info@tdpf.org.uk If you have received this mail in error, or if would like to unsubscribe from the list, just click reply/e-mail info@tdpf.org.uk with 'unsubscribe me' as the subject. If you know anyone who might enjoy this newsletter please pass it on. New subscribers can join by visiting http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Contact.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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