Why isn’t THIS WOMAN in charge of UK drug policy?

I’m talking about Lady Amanda Neidpath, the head of the Beckley Foundation, the group responsible for THIS REPORT which I wrote about recently.

Why are our elected official so afraid of the truth?

Why do we ignore experts on issues which are controversial? Certainly people with this sort of extensive knowledge and experience on any subject (including and especially drug use) should be embraced, as should their conclusions.

We don’t expect enough from our leaders, we should expect more. We should receive more too.

Let’s put Lady Neidpath in charge of the UK’s drug strategy. She’s already got my vote!

I realised this morning, I have a real problem with drugs…

No, not that kind of problem, you won’t see me going into rehab, no, no, no!

My problem with drugs is this: my drug of choice, weed, is not legal and I’m unduly made a criminal as a result. That’s a big problem.

Its silly, its unfair, and its unjustified. It’s also the law.

Laws can be changed and when a law is unjust, it should be changed. Criminalising people because they want to indulge in the consumption of a plant is stupid, no matter how you look at it.

Cannabis is comparatively safe, if you’re comparing it to the two legally obtainable drugs, tobacco and alcohol. You can’t overdose on weed and according to the post just below this one, there are only 2 recorded deaths attributed to cannabis in the history of recording!

How is society served by criminalising me? I am a respectable, otherwise law-abiding, tax paying citizen of this fine planet. Send me to prison for a few years and not only do you lose my positive contributions to society and the queen’s purse, but I end up costing you money! You think those orange boiler suits and mystery meat surprise for lunch every day is free? You pay for it! Isn’t it better that I stay on the outside and continue to purchase my own meals and clothing?

The truth is, the likelihood of me ever serving time for simple possession is minimal. I’m careful, I don’t take risks and I pretty much only ever smoke in the privacy and security of my own home. The only place I flaunt my cannabis use is here on the internet, but I do that for a reason. My agenda….

My agenda here has always been simple and hopefully obvious; I wish to remove any remaining stigma attached to smoking cannabis. I am a professional, I work full time (and then some), I take care of myself and the people I love, I’m kind to strangers and animals. Especially animals.

I’ve personally known loads of people who smoke dope, from the casual “I’ll have a couple of puffs on that spliff” types, to people “who can smoke me under the table”, I’ve smoked with them all. I’ve probably directly encountered over one-thousand people in the last nearly three decades of my daily dope smoking who have all enjoyed a bit of weed. None of them were homeless, clinically insane or went on to harder drugs. If anything, most of them mellowed as they got older, which is not something I can say for myself. Ninety-nine percent of them were gainfully employed and if I am honest worked in my profession. The media is full of hypocrites and the same people putting out anti-drug propaganda bullshit in the newspapers, enjoy a toot or a pill or a puff at the weekend.

Whenever I’ve had to deal with drug issues professionally, I’ve tried to be balanced and I’ve aimed to find voices on my side of the argument. Trust me, its more than most would do, for to be seen as sympathetic to drug use could land you in hot water. I’ve never kept my drug use a secret and if asked point blank by a boss, I wouldn’t deny where my interests lie. As I’ve aged, I’ve become more vocal in making sure the propaganda is not unchallenged. It’s about all I can do and I know its not much.

I want to do more.

I want us all to do more.

For the drug laws to change, every single one of us who smokes weed has to come out of the green closet and declare with pride our love of weed. If I do it on my own, if I outted myself here and now, there’s a very good chance I would lose my job or worse.

Attitudes are changing, more so than one might think. Especially if one is in the current, out of step with the electorate, government of this country. Remember, our Prime Minister, old whatshisface, the really unpopular one that EVERYONE hates, said that cannabis is lethal. What fucking planet is he from and can we send him back, please?

Check out this survey which was published today. Really, click here and read it, it won’t take you long.

Did you read it? Don’t lie, this hippy sees all. A bit like Santa Claus, or god, only I’m not fictional.

The “rave generation” has begat another generation of “junior ravers” and both generations think the other generation is on drugs. Cool.

The times, they are a’changin’ and our politicians have to wake up to this, especially on my pet subject. Climate change, financial meltdown, possible flu pandemics, a McCain presidency, the future is looking decidedly bleak. The least those idiots in power could do is let us all soften the blow with a little sweet smoke!

I really need help with my drug problem. I’m willing to help myself, if you’ll help me too, but its a big ask…

I want you all to consider outting yourselves along side me as a life long dope smoker. More than consider, I want you to make a pledge to do it and I want you to email it to me. If I get, oh I don’t know, a million emailed pledges, I will reveal myself to the world.

Ok, a million is probably pushing it.

Probably? I’ve got more chance of sprouting wings, spitting fire and renaming myself the northlondondragon.

What’s a realistic number? If I’m serious about this, and dammit I am, then I need to come up with a number that strikes a balance between being attainable and yet still giving me the confidence of knowing I’ll be backed up by my legions of hippyfans.

How many in a legion?

According to Wikipedia, around 5,200. Of course, Wikipedia says Neil Armstrong was the first man to eat cheese. At least it does now.

Five thousand ain’t nearly enough.

I’ve narrowed it down then, I need somewhere between 5,000 and one-million emails from you guys before I’ll tell the world who I am.

Clearly this plan requires more thought.

It’s not easy having a drug problem, especially when the solution seems so elusive, but with your help, maybe our collective drug problem can be cured.

(Keep reading, the next post is about weed too. I know, two in a row, go me!)

It’s about bloody time!

The Global Cannabis Commission report is being presented at the House of Lords today. It was undertaken by the Beckley foundation, a UN-accredited non-governmental organisation in advance of the United Nations strategic drug policy review expected next year.

The report makes a rather surprising recommendation…surprising because it is so sensible! They suggest that a “regulated market” should replace the current (silly and unenforceable) international prohibition of my favourite plant. The report proposes that we consider replacing prohibition with a system of labelling, taxation and minimal age requirements.

This is a seismic shift in attitude for the United Nations, which as an organisation, sits at the centre of cannabis prohibition, but I can’t say for certain that they will take this advice on board. After all, similar recommendations have been made here in the UK and have been promptly ignored by our ignorant politicians. Especially that incompetent uesless twit, Gordon Brown. I really thought he would be gone by now, but the Labour Party is seriously lacking common sense and balls and they pussed out at their party conference. Wimps!

This report puts the issue in context, going on to say “…in terms of relative harms it (cannabis) 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.”

I’d like to know how 2 people died from weed. Did they choke on on it? Oh and the word “historically” in that context means since records began, which is a seriously long-old time!

Naturally this report is being warmly welcomed by cannabis campaigners world-wide, myself included.

My dope smoking recently hasn’t been recreational, as much as it has been medicinal, thanks to my recent health problems. Spliff helped when my back was seized up like a clenched fist and it continues to calm the nausea I am feeling from my chronic thyroiditis, which is another name for Hashimoto’s disease.

I don’t know what I would do without weed and I know that is the same for literally millions of people around the world, who are unnecessarily criminalised for our love of dope. I am not a criminal and neither are they! It’s about time the law caught up to this undeniable truth.

If you would like to read the Guardian’s take on this new report, all you need to do is CLICK HERE.

And if you would like to find out more about weed, please follow this link to the hippy’s cannabis truth series.

This is turning into the diary of the infirm.

Sorry, I know this used to be the capital of online fun. Maybe I should bring back the virtual blackjack tables? At least the house would always win.

I’m still feeling crap. The medication I’m taking is providing me with a host of side effects, all of them seriously dull and no fun.

I saw my GP again last week, he changed the brand of the meds I’m taking, which has subtracted a lot of the nausea, but not all of it and I still have the other side effects. Like breathlessness, heart palpitations, dizziness, headaches, tiredness, confusion and forgetfulness…need I go on?

My GP ordered more tests, which he says is to rule out some other things, rather than confirm anything he suspects. I think that’s supposed to be comforting.

My back seems to be holding its own. I still have pain, but I can cope with it. I’m still seeing the chiropractor, twice a week down from three visits and its always better after an adjustment. It tends to slide back a bit in between though, which I think is down to the fact that my thyroid levels aren’t right yet. The inflammation is being held at bay, but it’s not disappearing completely because whatever originally caused it, is still causing it.

My thyroid levels won’t be right for a while, as my GP says the dose I am on now, that is giving me all these fun side effects, will most likely needed to be increased after my next blood test. Doubled, actually. I can’t wait.

I haven’t felt like posting much lately, which is annoying because there’s loads I’d like to write about, I just don’t have the attention span to focus very long.

For all the jokes and references I’ve made about being middle aged, I’ve never really felt it in my bones. These days, not only do I feel it, I think I look the part too. It’s all dreadfully tedious and I’m bored of it all already.

I liked it better when I thought I was healthy. Clearly, I wasn’t really healthy, but I thought I was and isn’t that what really matter?

My doctor says that once my medication is sorted out, I’ll feel better than ever. Right now, I find that really hard to believe. When you feel shitty every day, its hard to be even a little bit positive about anything.

There’s a brand new Bushmaster bubbler sitting here, with your name on it. Well, maybe…but you won’t have a chance if you don’t enter my contest!

I’ve been digging the Canna Zine for a while now and I thought its about time I gave it some proper attention.

Canna Zine is “the only Pro-Reform (of cannabis laws) news agency in Europe” and an excellent resource for information on my beloved weed. They stay up to date with the latest news on weed, plus they give a lot of time and attention to other pro-reform groups.

I should mention that I am now listed as a cannabis resource in the UK in the Canna Zine directory, but that is more a statement of support from me to them, than any sort of endorsement of whatever it is I do here. I’m pleased they accepted my submission and I’m proud to be associated with a website that is striving to further a sensible, science and fact-based approach to cannabis.

This is especially important now as it looks very likely that Gordon (GGG!) Brown and his merry band of glee-thieves will be reclassifying weed early next year. I say “likely” because the move has yet to be rubber stamped by parliament. Yes, I know its a formality, but I still hold a small glimmer of hope that common sense, logic and decency will prevail and my beloved weed will remain in Class C…until it is first decriminalised, then full legalised, regulated, and taxed.

A hippy can dream. And I do. Still way too much.

(Did you want a bubbler? Funny, because I’m giving one away, along with a shitload of other prizes. Go on, click this link to find out more)

I’m starting a new campaign today and I’m going to need help from all of you. It is my desire to see Gordon Brown removed from Number 10. Brown’s been Prime Minister long enough. Too long!

Gordon’s gotta go!

GGG!

Gordon’s
Gotta
Go!

Gordon Brown is by far the worst Prime Minister the United Kingdom has ever had, bar none. Even war-monger Blair had a bit of charm and charisma; Brown is a charisma-free zone.

I could actually cope with Gordon Brown’s stiff and unpleasant demeanour, if it weren’t for his total lack of vision and pointless policies and you know where this is going…

Reclassification…

Yep, I’m a one-issue kinda guy.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is the independent body which advises the government on drugs policy. No government has ever ignored their recommendations since the board was formed. Ol’ Gordo is preparing to ignore their advice and reclassify cannabis to Class B from its current status of Class C.

The ACMD have reviewed cannabis policy three times in the last several years; the first time Tony Blair and David Blunkett followed their advice and put weed into Class C. See, Blair wasn’t all bad. There was this and Northern Ireland, the rest, well that was all pretty bad.

The second time the ACMD recently reviewed cannabis, they again reached the same conclusion. This was done in the heat of the political firestorm that followed the original declassification decision and it only reaffirmed the move and the government left it alone.

The third review of cannabis was requested by Brown, in light of the “new evidence” of the dangers of cannabis.

The truth is, there is no new evidence, there are just conflicting studies which don’t come to any real conclusions regarding links between mental health problems and cannabis use. That hasn’t stopped the media from trying to whip up a Downing Street inspired shit storm of hysterical spin, painting cannabis as the devil’s weed. It was reefer madness mark II, only these days, most of us know much better.

The ACMD reached the same conclusion on their third review, that cannabis should remain in Class C - the report was delivered to Gordon this week. The contents of the report were leaked to the press several weeks ago though they have yet to be made officially public. Their decision, along with Gordon’s overruling of it is expected to come sometime after yesterday’s local elections.

Now, here’s the cool bit. If Gordon Brown ignores the advice of the ACMD, the members of the ACMD are prepared to publicly resign in disgust. That’s how serious this is.

On top of that, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are reportedly prepared to reassert the current guidance on cannabis possession, if Gordon does reclassify to Class B. In other words, they will continue to operate as if it was Class C.

Just a quick explanation on the differences between the Class B and Class C - the penalties are exactly the same for production and distribution under both. The end user ends up worse off under B.

Where they differ is when it comes to personal possession - under Class C, you should be cautioned and have the weed confiscated. Under Class C, you can still do time, up to 2 years in prison. Under Class B, there is technically no confiscate and caution option, the penalty for possession is 5 years in the big house.

Anyone with a brain knows that the classification of a drug has little to do with how people view it. Cocaine is Class A, carrying the stiffest penalties for possession, but people still take it. A lot of people, actually.

Since cannabis was declassified, usage has gone down. Since cannabis was declassified, far fewer people are unnecessarily imprisoned for a victimless crime. Since cannabis was declassified, we’ve had a drug policy in this country that was on the verge of sensible (with sensible being completely decriminalised or even better legalised, taxed and sold like liquor).

Gordon’s reason for all of this is the same reason he uses for everything he does. Gordon knows best.

Like fuck he does!

To say that Gordon’s drug policy is creating a complete muddle would be an understatement, like saying an ocean is slightly damp. It’s becoming an unmitigated disaster full of lies, hysteria, missteps, misinformation and decided lack of consistency or honesty.

In other words, for fuck’s sake, what a twat!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a politician so out of step with his country. He hasn’t a clue what genuine people are like. He can’t relate to any of us, because he is a complete social outsider.

Imagine, if you can, meeting Gordon in your local for a drink. He’d order a pint of whatever you’re having, but then hardly touch it. He’d try to talk to you about fiscal responsibility and moral authority, when you would rather talk about the football or how cool that new Iron Man movie looks. He would stand uncomfortably in the crowd, makings others feel uneasy, yet you would definitely get the sense he thought he was better than you, though you wouldn’t in a month of Sundays ever guess how he justifies it in his head.

Yes, Gordon, you are socially awkward and that was fine when you were the Chancellor and everyone thought you were doing a good job. No one thinks that now! The economy is up the spout, it’s screwed, its fucked and Gordon is to blame.

I’m paying £1.10 a litre for petrol. That’s really bad! (And for my American readers, I reckon that’s about 8 bucks a gallon and you didn’t read that wrong!)

The cost of food is skyrocketing too. But that’s not what is upsetting people at the moment, its the decline in house prices.

The economy here in Blighty has been falsely inflated due to the housing market. House prices were making wild gains, but that’s stopped now. People can’t trade up every year or two because their homes aren’t increasing any more. In some cases, they are decreasing and a term from a long time ago is creeping back:

Negative equity.

That’s a fancy pants way of saying your home is worth less than the amount you owe on your mortgage. It’s wank speak, really and it only matters if you are selling your house. If your house is not on the market, then it doesn’t really matter, but it might be the reason you can’t put your house for sale.

What would you do if you had a 100K loan and your house was only worth 75K. Where would you come up with that extra 25K to pay off the bank, plus interest? You wouldn’t, you’d just keep paying your mortgage and thanking god you have a roof over your head.

No one I know is getting rich or even getting ahead just by working. The people I know who have serious money in the bank, or have leap-frogged the rest of us on the property ladder have done so by making vastly inflated profits on property trading. That’s what has really been driving the economy.

Guess what? The economy is running out of steam and is grinding to a halt, thanks in a large part to the current housing market crash (or should I say crunch so I don’t panic anyone?).

And Gordon is to blame!

As I write this, the local election results are dribbling slowly out of my television. The topline is a simple one, it’s the Labour party’s worst showing in 40 years. They’ve come in third, after the Tories and the Lib Dems.

And Gordon is to blame.

Brown is a political liability.

Oh who am I kidding, he is a liability in every conceivable way.

I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a politician as much as I dislike Gordon Brown.

I have this fantasy that this afternoon, after all the election results are tabulated, certified and released and the true picture of the Labour massacre is confirmed, that a small group of very senior Labour types swing by Number 10 for a private chat with Brown.

In this chat, they ask him to resign asap, right then and there. When he refuses, they tell him if he doesn’t resign his position as Prime Minister, they will invoke a special extraordinary session of Parliament and call for a vote of no confidence in his leadership.

In other words, Gordon can do this the easy way or he can do it the hard way and its his choice.

Gordon is confronted with this difficult decision and he chooses to resign to make it seem like it was his idea. He returns to the back bench where we hardly ever hear from him again.

Or I’ve got another scenario, which I just thought of, just now. He could return to Number 11 and be the Chancellor of the Exchequer again, because of the dire economic outlook, the department needs his expertise again!

Basically, anything that ends his premiership before he can fuck up anything else is good with me.

I’ve even got a catch phrase for you. You can use it as a greeting, when you meet people. Better yet, you can use it to sign off letters and emails. Maybe I should get tee-shirts printed. How can we lose when we have my winning slogan? Go on, chant along with me!

GGG!

Gordon’s gotta go!

GGG!

GORDON’S GOTTA GO!

GGG!

GORDON’S
GOTTA
GO!

Three G’s means Gordon’s not for me!

GGG!

Gordon’s gotta go!

GGG!

Are you all with me?

(While we’re on the subject of weed, check out the northlondonhippy’s cannabis truth series.)

I have to say, I was more than a bit miffed at being excluded from the Observer Newspaper’s top 50 list of most powerful blogs. I guess this is just another mainstream media plot to keep my message from reaching a wider audience, but I will not be silenced!

And there’s always next year! Make sure you write your MP or congressperson and point out this horrible injustice.

Ah-hem.

The real reason I’m here is because the pope clearly must read my blog and he doesn’t like it and he doesn’t like me. Well, matey, the feeling is very mutual.

A while back, I confirmed the existence of my band, “the seven deadly sins” when I announced the upcoming release of my album. It seems the pope didn’t like this move and he’s trying to stifle my creativity by updating the 7 deadly sins for our modern age. I guess god has finally made an appearance in the 21st century and about time!

The new top seven sins according to the pope are as follows:

1) Environmental pollution
2) Genetic manipulation
3) Accumulating excessive wealth
4) Inflicting poverty
5) Drug trafficking and consumption
6) Morally debatable experiments
7) Violation of fundamental rights of human nature

Ok, there’s one on that list that wouldn’t be there, if it weren’t for his hatred of me and that’s number 5…drug consumption. The pope’s getting his revenge on me with that one, but it’s not the only one…

Genetic manipulation! My published work in recombinant DNA research is well known and I only missed out on a Nobel science prize because of some ill conceived public comments I made while drunk on power, fame and 151 proof Bacardi!

And yes, I’ve violated the rights of human nature, for according to the catholic church, that’s an easy one as its their definition of sodomy. Oh and before you think I am some sort of ass bandit, sodomy at its most basic definition includes oral-genital sexual contact. Guilty!

The pope is out to get me! He knows my liberal ideas and secular-humanist values threaten his existence as a silly old white man in a white dress!

But never mind him! What about my band?

The drummer, wrath, doesn’t want to change his stage name to “genetic manipulation” and sloth, who never makes it to rehearsals, would have to start showing up…

I’m sure glad I’m an atheist and I don’t believe in any of this nonsense. I mean, come on, eternal damnation? Give me a fucking break!

Sin is far too much fun, anyway. I don’t see anyone stopping, do you?

The United Nations wants to jail Amy Winehouse. Oh, and Kate Moss too. They want to see celebrities punished more harshly for drug offences, to send a message to the rest of us.

What the fuck?

Don’t they have more important things to do at the United Nations? Like bringing about world peace, feeding the starving, solving climate change? I’d certainly put those three issues ahead of a few spoiled rich people enjoying a toot or two.

Do people really think that anyone takes drugs because celebrities do? You know, that Pete Doherty smokes crack, maybe I should too? He looks so good on it!

I’m not making this up, it’s in all the newspapers today and I’ve seen the story on TV too. What a waste of breath, print and airtime! My favourite version is in today’s SUN NEWSPAPER.

The UN is far too involved in global drug policy and the UN is effectively a global special interest group directed by the world’s most powerful nations.

People take drugs because they make them feel good, not because some celebrity enjoys them. No one should be punished for drug use, unless that use causes other problems. I’d have no issues with arresting someone on smack for running someone over with their car. If you’re high on H, you shouldn’t be driving, but if you’re high on H at home, it’s nobody’s business but your own!

If any one organisation should be advocating the full international legalisation of drugs, its the United Nations. They have the statistics, they know what a large part of the international economy the drug trade is and they know how it could benefit from sensible international controls. But will they? Will they, fuck!

No, the UN will remain a largely irrelevant body, unless you believe the conspiracy theories about black helicopters and world domination! Trust me, the United Nations could barely organise lunch for 6 people, I don’t think we have to worry about them trying to take over the planet, though if they did, at least we wouldn’t have to worry about career criminals like Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss roaming free!

People are always going on about the dangers of illegal drugs, but precious little gets said about the abuse of pharmaceutical medications. Since the death of actor, Heath Ledger, that’s starting to change.

Check out THIS ARTICLE from today’s Observer newspaper, please.

The only quote I’m going to reproduce, is a small bit from the tease at the top of the page:

“…misuse of over-the-counter pills now kills more Americans than illegal drugs.”

I have to put my hand in the air and admit I didn’t know that. Did you?

Of course I know pharms are dangerous, any drug can be dangerous if used irresponsibly or recklessly, but I didn’t realise that they were killing more Americans than street drugs.

The only prescription drug I’ve really taken recreationally is Valium and that was usually to make the come down from other drugs easier. And that’s it. In other words, I don’t have much first hand experience of recreational pharm use.

I certainly can see the temptation though. Swallow a pill, get high. Simple, clean and effective.

I also know that prescription pills are fiercely addictive. And I know that taking too many can lead to death.

People turn to legal drugs, well, because they’re legal. They’re also cleaner and less likely to be cut with any old rubbish. The dosages are consistent, the manufacture controlled and regulated and the distribution, if you have a prescription, is from a nice, well lit shop selling them at reasonable prices, along with loads of other useful goods. Why not pick up a handy home First Aid kit, while you’re there?

People also turn to pharms because what they might prefer, is illegal, possibly cut with any old rubbish, with inconsistent dosages, poor manufacturing conditions and sold by some creepy guy in the back of a pub or on a street corner in the bad part of town, at night.

Do you see where I’m headed.

If proper recreational drugs, like my beloved weed were legal and a safe supply was available, then more people would smoke dope and less people would abuse pills, ergo: less people will die prematurely.

The illegality of preferable substances is the main thing driving decent folks to abuse what’s in their medicine cabinets.

If you piss-test positive for cannabis in a work-drugs test, you’re fucked. If you come up positive for opiates, you just say you have a “bad back” and no one blinks an eye.The fact that you go home and pain pills with a litre of Stoli is your little secret…until your body is discovered lying in a pool of sick, in your bed and you’re not breathing!

Look, no drug is safe, but all drugs can be made safer if you have the right information and don’t fear seeking it out. Crossing the street’s not safe, but we make it safer by learning to look both ways. “Harm reduction” is what its called and with drugs too, you can reduce the chances of problems with a little bit of knowledge.

In light of this tragedy taking place in America, I am issuing an open call to all lawmakers there to set an example to the world and legalise all recreational substances! Let’s reduce the number of Americans who are dying from the effects of prescription drug abuse and give them the choice of safely enjoying the goodies of their choosing!

Who am I kidding? America will just declare war on chemists or doctors, or the prescription meds themselves. That’s the more their style. There’s more of a chance of them doing that, than anything remotely sensible…

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, or “Richard and Judy” as they are known to their legions of fans in the UK are very popular and influential celebrities in this country. When they recommend a book or a wine, it becomes a big seller overnight. What they say to the nation, can change the course of the nation. They hold a lot of sway.

For those of you not residing here in Blighty, I should explain a bit. The couple I’m talking about have been fixtures on our daytime TV screens for many, many years. They are married and after starting out in regional telly, moved on to hosting a national daytime chat show in the mornings on ITV. After many years on ITV and in a well publicised and expensive network coup, made a high profile jump to Channel 4. That’s where theyremain, hosting a programme that goes out weekdays 5pm-6pm.

Normally, I find their views on the conservativeside and in some instances extremely so, which meant I was quite surprised when someone I know drew my attention to a recent Richard Madeley’s column in the Daily Express newspaper.

Yes, the Daily Express of all places!

Rather than tease you with this, I’ll just cut to the chase with the salient quotes:

“RICHARD: How awkward it is to have to begin the new year defending the apparently indefensible… in the form of eccentric police chief Richard Brunstrom’s latest headline-grabbing “gaffe”. I refer, of course, to his call this week on Radio 4’s Today programme for the legalising of drugs.



Brunstrom reckons all currently banned substances – everything from Ecstasy to heroin – will have been decriminalised inside 10 years. He added that Ecstasy is “safer than aspirin”, for good measure.


“Idiotic”, “Mad”, and “Captain Calamity” were just some descriptions of the head of the North Wales force the following morning. Parents of young people who died after taking Ecstasy queued up to castigate him – quite understandably. If my child had perished because of drug abuse, I would be first in line calling for Brunstrom’s head.



Which doesn’t mean I would be right. It is pointless here to get into a statistical debate about the dangers of aspirin versus Ecstasy.  Both preparations can kill: Ecstasy by fits following dehydration and other factors, aspirin usually from internal bleeding.



Ecstasy kills around 50 people every year – although many more have a close encounter with the Grim Reaper in their local intensive care unit.



But considering the colossal number of (mostly) young people who swallow Ecstasy tablets in nightclubs up and down Britain every night of the year, the toll is comparatively small when set against those killed or maimed in drink-driving crashes.



Don’t get me wrong, I think taking Ecstasy is stupid. 



Prolonged use may well cause memory loss. But being against the law hasn’t stopped it from becoming endemic – which means the criminal supply of Ecstasy and other drugs is endemic too.

This is at the root of the gang culture that grips virtually every city in Britain and is largely responsible for the proliferation of guns on our streets. The analogy with Thirties prohibition era Chicago is inescapable.

Personally, I’d feel safer taking a palmful of aspirin than even one Ecstasy. But as a social policy, the criminalisation of drugs must surely be recognised for what it is:  an abject failure. Cocaine, heroin, speed and, yes, Ecstasy, have never been more widely available or cheaper to buy. Their illegal sale on an industrial scale nourishes a huge, sprawling and hydra-headed criminal underclass.

All Richard Brunstrom – with,  by the way, the broad support of his police authority – is really asking is for a sensible debate on how we move on from the failed drug policies of the past.



He may be a ridiculous honorary druid with an irritating penchant for speed cameras and absurdly sensitive to weak jokes about the Welsh, but he’s doing something rarely seen in our chief constables.

He is thinking out of the box. That is brave and bold and deserves thoughtful consideration, not calumny.”

Please do click this link to the original article, it starts about 1/2 way down the page.

I was stunned.

I was flabbergasted!

I’m never flabbergasted.

I’m not certain what flabbergasted even means!

Sometimes, common sense comes from very unlikely sources and I must say there was no more unlikely source of these sagely words than Richard Madeley.

I’d like to applaud Mr. Madeley’s bravery and genuine courage for coming out in support of Richard Brunstom and the Police Authority in the pursuit of truth and honesty about drugs.

The next time you’re discussing legalising drugs with someone, quote Richard. Seriously, even to your parents. People really dig Richard and Judy, if you quote him, they will think twice about their beliefs and perhaps even start to question them. Try it and you’ll see what I mean, attaching his name to the cause will give it a new level of respect.

If Richard Madeley supports a complete re-think on drug policy, perhaps there IS something to it!

If more people were willing to stand up and speak out, perhaps things would be better for responsible adults like myself and those of you out there who choose to indulge in the use of unsanctioned substances. There are so so SO many of us out there, who lead productive, normal lives, yet enjoy things other than alcohol and tobacco.

We have too much to lose. That’s the problem, our normalcy and responsible lives don’t meet society’s stereotypes of what a drug user is. If we did step out of the closet and proclaim proudly that we smoke weed, or snort a bit of charlie, or neck a few pills every weekend and it wasn’t destroying our lives, people who disapproved would find a way of destroying our lives for us.

Next week is the public consultation on reclassifying weed. I’m sure people braver than me will attend and speak out eloquently on the subject, before they’re ignored completely and the government just reclassifies it anyway. But that’s not why I’m not going.

I’m not going, because I have too much to lose. As open as I am about my drug use to friends, family, work colleagues, strangers I sit next to on the bus, I don’t know how I’d feel about my name and address being on record with this government in relation to the status of weed and specifically my constant intake of it.

And with this government, how long would it take them before they lost the list and it ended up in the hands of, oh I don’t know, the police maybe! Making cannabis class B means the penalties are worse for the end user; what if they decide to ‘round us all up? They’re building an awful lot of new prisons!

Oh and by the way, the penalties for production and distribution of cannabis, ie growing and dealing, are exactly the same under class B as class C, so it’s really only those of us who might get caught with a small amount who are seeing the penalties change. Thanks, Gordon. Thanks, Jacqui.

What’s worse is that it will only drive those of us who wish to speak out, further underground, while allowing the criminal element to continue ruling the trade, with no additional risks. Who really benefits from this change in status?

That’s an easy question to answer. Who benefits from the reclassification of cannabis?

No one at all.