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| Cannabis evidence 'was devalued' | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The row over the reclassification of cannabis has been reignited after the government's chief drug adviser accused ministers of "devaluing" the evidence. | |
| Professor David Nutt, who heads the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, says it does not cause major health problems. | Professor David Nutt, who heads the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, says it does not cause major health problems. |
| He accused ex-home secretary Jacqui Smith, who reclassified the drug, of "devaluing" scientific research. | He accused ex-home secretary Jacqui Smith, who reclassified the drug, of "devaluing" scientific research. |
| The Home Office said these opinions "do not reflect the views of government". | The Home Office said these opinions "do not reflect the views of government". |
| A spokesman said: "Prof Nutt's views are his own." | A spokesman said: "Prof Nutt's views are his own." |
| He added: "The government is clear: we are determined to crack down on all illegal substances and minimise their harm to health and society as a whole." | He added: "The government is clear: we are determined to crack down on all illegal substances and minimise their harm to health and society as a whole." |
| It comes after Prof Nutt used a lecture at King's College in London and briefing paper to attack what he called the "artificial" separation of alcohol and tobacco from other, illegal, drugs. | It comes after Prof Nutt used a lecture at King's College in London and briefing paper to attack what he called the "artificial" separation of alcohol and tobacco from other, illegal, drugs. |
| Precautionary measure | Precautionary measure |
| The professor said smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness, and claimed those who advocated moving ecstasy into Class B from Class A had "won the intellectual argument". | The professor said smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness, and claimed those who advocated moving ecstasy into Class B from Class A had "won the intellectual argument". |
| Public concern over the links between high-strength cannabis, known as skunk, and mental illness led the government to reclassify cannabis to Class B from C last year. | Public concern over the links between high-strength cannabis, known as skunk, and mental illness led the government to reclassify cannabis to Class B from C last year. |
| The decision was taken despite official advisers recommending against the change. | The decision was taken despite official advisers recommending against the change. |
| Ministers said they wanted to make the move as a precautionary measure. | Ministers said they wanted to make the move as a precautionary measure. |
| The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) review of cannabis classification, which was ordered in 2007, was the result of a "skunk scare", according to the professor. | The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) review of cannabis classification, which was ordered in 2007, was the result of a "skunk scare", according to the professor. |
| In his lecture and briefing paper, entitled Estimating Drug Harms: A Risky Business?, he repeated his claim that the risks of taking ecstasy are no worse than riding a horse. | In his lecture and briefing paper, entitled Estimating Drug Harms: A Risky Business?, he repeated his claim that the risks of taking ecstasy are no worse than riding a horse. |
| Prof Nutt also warned that the reclassification decision may lead to more people taking the drug. | Prof Nutt also warned that the reclassification decision may lead to more people taking the drug. |
| "It may be that if you move a drug up a class it has a greater cachet", he said, adding the government's approach "starts to distort the value of evidence". | "It may be that if you move a drug up a class it has a greater cachet", he said, adding the government's approach "starts to distort the value of evidence". |
| If you think that scaring kids will stop them using, you are probably wrong Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs | If you think that scaring kids will stop them using, you are probably wrong Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs |
| He cited research which "estimates that, to prevent one episode of schizophrenia, we would need to stop about 5,000 men aged 20 to 25 years from ever using the drug". | He cited research which "estimates that, to prevent one episode of schizophrenia, we would need to stop about 5,000 men aged 20 to 25 years from ever using the drug". |
| He said skunk has been in wide usage for about 10 years but, he claims, there has been no upswing in schizophrenia. | He said skunk has been in wide usage for about 10 years but, he claims, there has been no upswing in schizophrenia. |
| The professor accepts cannabis can sometimes cause mental illness, but argues it is safer than tobacco and alcohol and, overall, does not lead to major health problems. | The professor accepts cannabis can sometimes cause mental illness, but argues it is safer than tobacco and alcohol and, overall, does not lead to major health problems. |
| Prof Nutt said: "We have to accept young people like to experiment - with drugs and other potentially harmful activities - and what we should be doing in all of this is to protect them from harm at this stage of their lives. | Prof Nutt said: "We have to accept young people like to experiment - with drugs and other potentially harmful activities - and what we should be doing in all of this is to protect them from harm at this stage of their lives. |
| "We therefore have to provide more accurate and credible information. If you think that scaring kids will stop them using, you are probably wrong." | "We therefore have to provide more accurate and credible information. If you think that scaring kids will stop them using, you are probably wrong." |
| Following these comments, a spokesman for the ACMD said: "The lecture Prof Nutt gave at King's College was in his academic capacity and was not in his role as chair of the ACMD. | Following these comments, a spokesman for the ACMD said: "The lecture Prof Nutt gave at King's College was in his academic capacity and was not in his role as chair of the ACMD. |
| "We acknowledge that the lecture has prompted further debate on the harms of drugs." | "We acknowledge that the lecture has prompted further debate on the harms of drugs." |