“If you're 40 years old and you're living in Oregon and you have 12 giant pot plants in the back of your log cabin, knock yourself out" When asked; "Why not legalise drugs? ”-- Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Former US Drugs Czar
Contents
1. Transform News
- Gordon Brown responds to Transform's call for Impact Assessment
- Epic three year FOI battle to release suppressed Home Office drug strategy evaluation reaches its denouement
2. UK News
- Council leader’s call to legalise heroin in branded ‘dangerous’ by drugs adviser
- Anthrax Outbreak in Scotland
3. International News
- Open Letter to Change.org
- CIA footage broadcast of fatal attack on plane carrying US missionaries in Peru
- Drug Lords vs. Chocolate: From Coca to Cacao in Peru
4. What Transform Has Been Up To
- Steve Rolles
- Danny Kushlick
- Attends Drugs and Harms conference at Cumberland lodge
- Visits Maudsley Hospital
5. What You Can Do
- Apply for our new Administrators vacancy
6. Entertaining Propaganda
- Simon Kirby
1 Transform News
Gordon Brown responds to Transform's call for Impact Assessment
Transform finally receive a reply from Gordon Brown after a call for an Impact Assessment on the Misuse of Drugs act 1971.
"We do not intend to undertake an impact assessment comparing the costs and benefits of different legislative options for domestic drug policy. We see no merit in embarking upon such an undertaking in view of our longstanding position that we do not accept that legalisation and regulation are now, or will be in the future, an acceptable response to the presence of drugs."
To read more visit the blog here http://transform-drugs.blogspot.com/2010/01/gordon-brown-responds-to-transforms.htmlEpic three year FOI battle to release suppressed Home Office drug strategy evaluation reaches its denouement
We are delighted to announce that the Home Office has finally made the report available: Drugs Value for Money Review July 2007 Report
It's worth a look to discover what the Home Office thinks is too sensitive for public viewing.
What it shows is a basic lack of meaningful evaluation, and that what little evidence they do collect is clearly unable to demonstrate effectiveness or value for money, especially on the enforcement side where most of the resources are expended. It provides a stark contrast to the absurd rose-tinted picture painted by the 2007 consultation document produced by the Government. That we were presented with that piece of shameless propaganda and not this (only now released) academic research is scandalous and should rightly be a source of anger and concern to all in the drugs field involved in the review consultation process, regardless of their policy views.
To read more and see the lengthy history surrounding this legitimate request please look here
2. UK News
Council leader’s call to legalise heroin in branded ‘dangerous’ by drugs adviser
Brave Carmarthenshire council leader Meryl Gravell said making the Class A drug legal would make it less attractive to young people.
“All I know is that when my children were growing up they wanted to go out and drink – so I let them try a little bit of alcohol in the house."
“They didn't like the taste, and the curiosity disappeared. If something is forbidden, it's exciting to young people."
Anthrax Outbreak in Scotland
Scotland’s recent anthrax outbreak from contaminated heroin has raised urgent questions about forfeiting essential public health measures, says Sara McGrail. Read the full article in Drink and Drug news by clicking the link below.
http://www.drinkanddrugsnews.com/magazine/68f1ba568cd040b98af812a263225a0e.pdf
3. International News
Open Letter to Change.org
Here is a letter sent to change.org, it quite clearly reveals the extent to which people are prioritising reform of marijuana and other drug laws above and beyond other social and political issues.
Dear Change.org ,
I recently received an e-mail from you announcing the launch of "Ideas for Change in America 2010," a campaign that seeks to "empower citizens to identify and build momentum behind the country's best ideas for addressing the major challenges we face." This noble and worthy effort uses direct democracy to encourage the online audience to submit and vote for ideas.
Here is a snapshot of the campaign from http://www.change.org/ideas as of 4:30 pm on 2/4/2010:
. Second Most Popular Idea Overall: Legalize Recreational Use of Marijuana ( 920 votes )
. Most Popular Category: Criminal Justice
. Top 10 Ideas within the Criminal Justice category: Legalize Recreational Use of Marijuana; Legalize the Medicinal and Recreational Use of Marijuana; Rehabilitation, not incarceration; Legalize and tax marijuana; Remove Marijuana From Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; Legalize Marijuana; Reduce criminal recidivism; End the war on drugs; End Marijuana Prohibition; and Make Marijuana Legal.
"Marijuana" owned 7 of the top 10 Ideas in the above category with combined vote tallies over 2,500 and counting. Of the 44 Ideas submitted in Criminal Justice that had more than 20 votes, 31 ( 70% ) pertained in some way to marijuana. These 31 also accounted for 80% of the total votes in that category. Add Ideas to generally change drug policy, and these percentages topped 90%.
No other single idea captures more overall votes or consumes more of a single category than "Marijuana."
Is the "online audience" trying to tell you something? . . .
Finish reading this letter here
CIA footage broadcast of fatal attack on plane carrying US missionaries in Peru
US agency denied covering up botched anti-drug operation that led to death of American woman and baby in 2001. So 9 Years after one of the many innocent casualties of the War on Drugs the CIA finally release the video and said "This was a tragic episode that the agency has dealt with in a professional and thorough manner,"
Watching the video its easy to see where they could have pevented the tragedy. "I think we're making a mistake," one CIA operative is heard to say in the film after alerting the Peruvian airforce to the plane. "I agree with you," another says.
Drug Lords vs. Chocolate: From Coca to Cacao in Peru
Positive thinking and community cooperation has led to inspiring changes to the cash crop of choice for a group of farmers in Peru. Find out how, and why the cocoa growers are gaining popular support. Click here for link
4. What Transform Has Been Up To
Steve Rolles
I've written an article for drugs and alcohol today about blueprint, also had a similar piece in Nexos magazine - which is one of Mexico's leading policy publications, and I have done an interview for a high level policy forum website in argentina. Had a piece published in the barrister magazine (see miniblog for link).
Danny Kushlick
Cumberland Lodge, DRUGS AND HARM: A NEW AGENDA FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT?
Maudsley Hospital
5. What You Can Do
Apply for our new Administrators vacancy
6. Entertaining Propaganda
Simon Kirby
Reefer madness style comic strip, have a look here
Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Easton Business Centre, Felix Rd, Bristol, BS5 0HE, Telephone: +44 (0) 117 941 5810
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a registered Charity no. 1100518 and Limited Company no. 4862177