Archive for March 9th, 2007
March 9th, 2007 | 
Author: Another day, another drug report; but as always with the same, sensible conclusions.
This time, the authors of the report, the “The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce” – commonly known as the RSA, spent two years studying the situation. Rather than me explaining it to you, why don’t you read about it here, in my favourite broadsheet newspaper, The Guardian.
It’s an informed and considered opinion that the RSA is offering, one that has been around in one form or another, endorsed by other objective studies and completely ignored by politicians.
Politicians are terrified of reports like this because they are terrified of change. “Change” is a vote-loser, especially when that change, no matter how beneficial to society is misunderstood by a misinformed public.
Politicians have a vested interest in keeping people misinformed, especially about drugs. How can they be seen to be combating this terrible problem, if they haven’t pointed out it’s a problem in the first place?
The simple fact is that countless numbers of people in the UK take drugs every week, some every day, with no noticeable effect on their normal, productive lives, yet they are criminalised for something that harms no one.
What harms people are the situations created by the prohibition of drugs.
What harms people is the ignorance and misunderstanding that is fostered by governments and by the traditional media.
I’ve smoked cannabis for nearly 26 years and during that time I’ve either been a gainfully employed, tax-paying member of society or a student in full time education. I’m still sharp as tack with the mental skills of someone half my age. I don’t really take anything else these days and I hardly if ever drink alcohol. Should I be a criminal?
Of course not!
Think of all the dosh lost in uncollected VAT on all of the weed I’ve smoked over the years! There goes that extra MRI scanner for your local hospital! There goes an extra cop or two on the street!
It’s a plant for fuck sake! How can you ban nature?
Some of the biggest and most vocal supporters of a rethink on illegal drugs are the police. Yes, the police, the same people who have to enforce these pointless laws. The cops would much rather be chasing down genuine criminals than a bunch of dopeheads for possession!
I’ve spoken to cops who have told me they prefer to police a housing estate that has a higher percentage of weed smokers than drinkers. The smokers are much more chilled out, whereas we know what people who abuse alcohol are like. If you don’t, just visit any city centre this weekend after 11pm and you’ll receive a lesson you won’t soon forget!
Remember, the police don’t make the laws and it seems like they’re not even consulted when they’re best suited to offer guidance from real life experience. Listen to the cops, please Mr. Politician man! He doesn’t want to arrest anyone for possession!
What we need is an MP with balls, preferably one to become head of the Home Office. Charles Clark was leaning in that direction; so was David Blunkett, but not John Reid. He doesn’t want to rock the boat; he’s planning a future in politics.
How about David “call me Dave” Cameron? Before he was leader of his party, he posed a question over whether drugs should be legalised. He didn’t offer or suggest an answer, he just suggested the question could or should be asked.
Since then, he hasn’t even come close to this position and if anything he’s backed away from it. Since the revelations of his boyhood indiscretion with a spliff (shock/horror!), there is even less chance of him keeping his mind this open. It’s a pity, I had high (no pun) hopes for him.
Leave it to the leader of the LibDems, Sir Menzies Campbell to be the one voice of reason, welcoming the RSA report and endorsing its findings. The LibDems would legalise weed in an instant and we’d have Dutch-style coffeeshops in every neighbourhood! I wish they would get their act together and get some more support.
Do I think the law is going to change?
Yes, eventually it will, but not soon enough. I’d like it to change yesterday, or even the day before. If everyone would just see sense and avoid all the knee-jerk reaction bullshit that the subject always brings out, we could change the laws for the benefit of not just one lone hippy in north London, but all of society!
