“The Beckley Foundation are to be congratulated for the clarity of their call for cannabis supply to be brought within government control…we look forward to the same analysis being applied to heroin and cocaine.”

-- Danny Kushlick commenting on the Beckley Foundation Global Cannabis Commission Report

Contents

Transform News

• Ecstasy
• Transform Leaflet now in Mandarin
• Tobacco Consultation
• In Pursuit of Truth
• Beckley Foundation Global Cannabis Commission
• Drugs Laws Compound Racial Inequality

International News

• Launch EU Forum on Drugs
• EU Commission New Drug Strategy proposes more of the same
• US Presidential Candidates: Views on Drugs
• Mexico seeks decriminalisation of drug use
• Sri Lanka to grow cannabis for medical purposes
• India bans smoking in public

Film Review

• Saving Grace (2000)

Get Involved

• Fundraising Appeal
• Search for Students

Transform News

Ecstasy

The issue of ecstasy reclassification has dominated the media this month as the ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) have been examining the evidence as to whether the drug should be downgraded from a class A drug to class B. Transform have submitted a briefing to the ACMD review of the classification of ecstasy. The complete document is available here (pdf) and the appended article from Drugs and Alcohol Today is available here (pdf). Some related issues are also discussed on our blog here: 'Ecstasy reclassification meltdown; it begins again'.

Transform’s submission concludes that any review of the harms caused by ecstasy, or indeed any illegal drug, are essentially pointless if no distinction is made between harms caused by the drug and those created and/or exacerbated by its illegality. Transform has been calling for the ACMD to work at disaggregating policy harms from drug harms for some years now, maintaining that the ACMD’s continued explicit support for the criminalisation of drug production, supply and use (and failure to explore alternative regulatory options) makes them part of the problem instead of being part of the solution. Given the dramatic failure of the existing system (the absurdity of which is well illustrated in the graph below from the Science Select Committee) and its appalling negative consequences (in both public health and criminal justice arenas) it is absolutely imperative that the ABC classification system itself, and the legislative framework of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in which it sits, is the subject of the Advisory Council’s expert scrutiny.

Transform have received a wide range of media attention around this issue with quotes in a range of papers including, The Guardian, The BBC and The London Informer. Transform were also interviewed for a number of radio programmes including IRN News, BBC Wales, Five Live with Colin Blakemore and LBC.

A number of other organisations have submitted responses to this review, which can be viewed below:

UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) submission to the ACMD review on Ecstasy.

Release's submission.

Transform Leaflet now in Mandarin

We’ve recently had our leaflet translated into Mandarin. Copies can be downloaded here.

Our Communications Associate wrote a blog entitled ‘Is self-censorship-helping-perpetuate the war on drugs?’ which looks at some of the issues surrounding the dissemination of the document in China.

Tobacco Consultation

Transform have made a submission to the Department of Health's consultation on the future of tobacco control. The complete pdf of Transform's submission is available here.

The Transform submission fully endorses Ash's (Action on Smoking and Health) submission and the World Health Organisation's framework convention on tobacco control signed by the UK in 2003. Transform also raised some additional discussion points that were not directly addressed in the consultation document regarding the possibility for a more radical restructuring of tobacco market regulation, the discrepancies between alcohol and tobacco policy development and the wider issues raised around drug policy and how to regulate drugs.

In Pursuit of Truth

Danny wrote an article for Drink and Drug News this month. In the article he suggests that those working in the drug field need to speak out on the failings of prohibition, and expose the harm maximising effect of the war on drugs on their clients, in order to bring an end to the drug war. The article can be read here.

Beckley Foundation Global Cannabis Commission

"Although cannabis can have a negative impact on health, including mental health, in terms of relative harms, it is considerably less harmful than alcohol or tobacco…Historically, there have only been two deaths worldwide attributed to cannabis, whereas alcohol and tobacco together are responsible for an estimated 150,000 deaths per annum in the UK alone." Global Cannabis Commission Report.

Danny and Steve attended the Beckley Foundation launch of the Global Cannabis Commission report at the House of Commons this month. The review provides an overview of the latest evidence on cannabis and recommends that cannabis should be regulated, which they argue would cause less harm than the current international system of prohibition. The full report can be viewed here.

Danny, commented on the report in The Guardian saying; ‘The Beckley Foundation are to be congratulated for the clarity of their call for cannabis supply to be brought within government control…we look forward to the same analysis being applied to heroin and cocaine.’ The story was also well reported in the Independent here.

Drugs Laws Compound Racial Inequality

"People say the drug war isn't working…but not me - I say it is working, only too well. It's a highly successful method of maintaining the oppression of black people in the United States." Deborah Small, Break the Chains

Sebastian Saville of Release wrote a blog for the Guardian examining how the war on drugs in both the UK and US compounds racial inequality. He uses the US example of the disparities for sentencing between cocaine (often associated with affluent white people) and crack cocaine (associated with urban black society) with 5g of crack giving a mandatory five year prison term, whereas it takes possession of 500g of cocaine powder to draw the equivalent sentence. The article can be read here. This subject has also been covered in a recent article by Jack Cole from LEAP, you can read our blog on this here.

International News

Launch of EU Forum on Drugs

This month the European Commission has announced the launch of a Civil Society Discussion Forum on Drug Policy in the European Union. The forum is open to any NGO working in the drugs field in the EU. The discussion forum can be found here.

EU Commission New Drug Strategy proposes more of the same

“The Action Plan 2009-2012 builds on the existing approach of the EU Drugs Strategy 2005-2012 which set out a European model for drug policy based on a balanced approach to reduce both supply and demand for drugs.”

The EU commission has announced its latest (and most unremarkable – it’s pretty much the same as the 2005-2012) Drugs Action Plan for 2009-2012 it can be read here.

US Presidential Candidates: Views on Drugs

For those interested in finding out more about the up-coming US presidential elections The ontheissue website have assembled a list of each of the main candidates views on drugs. It includes the following:

McCain’s views on drugs include:

• Mexico should extradite drug dealers to the US. (Mar 2007)
• Administration is AWOL on the war on drugs. (Mar 2000)
• Public/private partnerships for drug treatment. (Jan 2000)
• Prevention & education apply to alcohol as well as marijuana. (Oct 1999)
• We’re losing drug war - just say no. (Oct 1999)
• $1B for detection equipment for more border interdiction. (Mar 1999)
• Mexico: balancing act between free trade & stopping drugs. (Mar 1999)
• Restrict methadone treatment programs. (Feb 1999)
• Stricter penalties; stricter enforcement. (Jul 1998)
• Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)
• Sponsored bill on drug testing for major league sports. (May 2005)
• Sponsored bill for grants to Indian tribes to fight meth. (Dec 2006)

McCain is a vocal supporter of the war on drugs, he wants to increase penalties for selling drugs, supports the death penalty for drug king pins, favours tightening security to stop the flow of drugs into the country, and wants to restrict the availability of methadone for heroin addicts.

Obama’s views on drugs include:

• Look at needle exchange; and expand treatment. (Feb 2008)
• Fight to rid our communities of methamphetamine. (Feb 2008)
• Expand drug courts; help prisoners with substance abuse. (Feb 2008)
• Questions harsh penalties for drug dealing (Oct 2007)
• Not first candidate to use drugs, but first honest about it. (Oct 2007)
• Do not lower drinking age from 21 to 18. (Sep 2007)
• Experimented with cocaine but turned down heroin. (Aug 2007)
• A "secret smoker", especially around reporters. (Aug 2007)
• Smokes cigarettes now; smoked some pot in high school. (Feb 2007)
• Admitted marijuana use in high school & college. (Jan 2007)
• Deal with street-level drug dealing as minimum-wage affair. (Oct 2006)
• Understand why youngsters want to use drugs. (Aug 1996)
• End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine. (Jun 2007)
• Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use. (Sep 2007)

Well we know who we’d be voting for!

Interestingly a recent poll in the US showed that 27% of the US population support legalisation of at least some drugs (34% of Obama supporters and 20% of McCain backers agreed) and a whopping 72% believe that the war on drugs is failing (89% of Obama supporters and 61% of McCain backers) More on the story can be read on our blog here.

Mexico seeks decriminalisation of drug use

Mexican President Felipe Calderon is currently drawing up a proposal to decriminalise small-scale drug possession. Under his plan, people carrying up to 2 grams (0.07 ounces) of marijuana or opium, half a gram of cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin or 40 milligrams of methamphetamine would face no criminal charges. More on the story can be found here.

Our Research Associate Emily has written a blog looking at the costs that Transit Countries are paying for the war on drugs, which can be read here.

Sri Lanka to grow cannabis for medical purposes

ayurvedic herbal garden (ayurveda.gov.lk)

The Ministry of Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka have announced this month their plan to grow 4,000kg (approximately 20acres) of cannabis per year, a main ingredient in a number of Ayurvedic drug preparations. The ministry has forwarded a cabinet paper seeking permission for a medicinal marijuana garden. The Ministry is also discussing the possibilities of cultivating the hemp plant with the Dangerous Drugs Board under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

India bans smoking in public

India marked the anniversary of Ghandi’s birth by following the recent trend and banning smoking in all enclosed public places. The ban is expected to affect some 1.2 billion people who will be forbidden from lighting up in bars, offices and other public places or risk facing a 200 rupee fine (£2.40). Transform supported the recent ban of smoking in enclosed public places in England (the same applies for the Indian ban) and we’ve described why in our blog post here.

Film Review – Saving Grace (2000)

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, mainstream British stoner comedy set in rural Britain. The film follows the life of an aimless Scottish gardener (Craig Ferguson) and a middle-aged widow (Brenda Blethyn), whose recently deceased husband has left her with enormous debts. The pair end-up putting their horticultural talents to the test, and set about turning Grace’s greenhouse into a hydroponics laboratory. The film takes a refreshingly light-hearted attitude towards cannabis and despite the slightly cheesy ending (and terrible music) the film pays some attention to the futility of the drug wars, which is always refreshing for such a mainstream movie.

We now have a section for book and film reviews on our volunteer community (you can log on here). You can either review some of the existing books and films that are already there or review any films or books (relating to drugs) that you’ve recently watched or read.

Get Involved

Fundraising Appeal

Transform are currently running a deficit budget and we need our income to rise to meet our increased level of activity. Transform is entirely dependent on donations to do our work and each donation we receive really has an impact. You can make a donation through our secure on-line giving pages which is run by the Charities Aid Foundation (alternatively please email info@tdpf.org.uk for a form).

We are also seeking funding for two of our latest projects. Firstly, we are in the process of writing a report examining the economic costs of prohibition. We need £1,000 to print and disseminate a hard copy of this. Secondly, we are seeking £3,000 funding to hold a seminar on our work surrounding Wellbeing. If you are able to help, in any way, with either of these projects, please do get in touch with us. Please either email info@tdpf.org.uk or call 0117 941 5810 to discuss it further. Many thanks in advance for your help.

Search for Students

Transform and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy are looking for students to help promote our cause. Ideally we would like people from any university to set up a society, organise meetings, write articles for their student magazine / newspaper, take part in debates and generally campaign for the cause. If you’re interested in getting involved please send an email to Levent Akbulut at: ssdp@ssdp.org.uk