Sometimes, this blog just writes itself and the following entry is ripped straight off the front page of today’s Guardian newspaper.

The headline reads “Cannabis use down since legal change” and it was written by their Home Affairs Editor, Alan Travis, based on the latest report by the British Crime Survey. Mr. Travis has continued to provide fair, balanced and responsible coverage of this very important issue. That can’t be easy in the current climate of fear and false information and I would like to publicly thank him for that. Please take the time to read HIS REPORT.

A few key quotes:

1) “Gordon Brown’s plans to tighten the law on cannabis by increasing the penalties for possession suffered a fresh blow yesterday as the latest official figures showed the decision to downgrade the drug had been followed by a significant fall in its use.

British Crime Survey statistics showed that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds using cannabis slumped from 28% a decade ago to 21% now, with its declining popularity accelerating after the decision to downgrade the drug to class C was announced in January 2004.”

2) “…the BCS figures published yesterday showed that cannabis is beginning to lose its allure with teenagers. The proportion of frequent users in the 16-24 age group, who were using the drug more than once a month, fell from 12% to 8% in the past four years.”

3) “The decline in cannabis consumption prompted a call from the independent UK Drugs Policy Commission to take decisions about drug classification out of the hands of ministers. Dame Ruth Runciman, the commission’s chief, said: “We do not believe the credibility of the current system or the clarity of message has been enhanced when, in just the space of seven years, five home secretaries have sought one way or another to address the classification of cannabis.”

Good policymaking had been overshadowed by “politicking”, and much of the confusion among public and politicians stemmed from misunderstandings about the classification system. The commission also says there is no evidence a drug’s classification deterred use, and suggested that instead of tinkering the whole classification system should be placed outside the direct control of politicians.”

4) “Claims that “superskunk”,.. (is) dominant were also undermined by police and customs seizure figures…. (with skunk making up) less than one-third of the (UK) market.”

The significance of this report cannot be underestimated. It contradicts absolutely every lie coming from the government on their justification for possible reclassification of cannabis. It pisses all over much of the bullshit we’ve been reading the newspapers over the last few months too.

I think Dame Runciman is onto something when she says the decision should be taken away from ministers. She is so right. Drug use is mainly a health issue, and should not be confused with legal or moral arguments.

The Guardian wasn’t the only newspaper to cover this story, as you can see for yourself in The Times and the Independent. The truth always finds a way!

I’m looking forward to this Sunday’s “Independent on Sunday”, to see how they can spin this one into some silly-assed shite.

Yes, IoS, you print a hell of a lot of silly-assed shite when it comes to my beloved cannabis and I am really getting bored with it. I’m guessing a senior editor there must have a teenage son or daughter who got into trouble and decided it was easier to blame weed, then take responsibility.

The IoS campaign smacks of personal interest, bordering on vendetta. As journalists, you’re supposed to be the dispassionate observers, you’re not meant to further your personal agenda with lie after lie. I have an agenda as too, but I back it up with the truth and personal experience and am trying to do some genuine good. If the IoS continues like this, they will be exposed and no one will trust anything else they publish.

Is the reputation of your newspaper worth backing losing horse? The hypocrisy you’re showing will do you no favours. You can’t continue to ignore the hard facts and it would be much better for you to come out now with an editorial, explaining you got it wrong and revert back to your previous and long running campaign to legalise weed! We’d forgive you if you did!

I don’t see how anyone can ignore these hard facts and reliable statistics, but I’m sure our government will find a way. If they can avoid the truth to justify the war in Iraq, it will be a piece of piss to do the same thing with weed. Both of those things make this hippy very sad.