When will the UK govt start to listen?

[free_phil_spector]

This is the second time in a few short years that the British government has commissioned research into drugs and the issue of prohibition, and both times they've been confronted with the bold truth that prohibition isn't working. Yet I can't for one second believe they'll listen and take any notice of this, just like they shot the messenger by sacking David Nutt. How can they be so blind to the truth when it stares them in the face?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012 ... ay-experts

[FlyByNite]

The old saying Money Talks would fit well here. How much do you think big pharma feeds into the equation?
Add to that with the alcohol producers. These folks will pad the politicians pockets with as much cash as necessary to keep weed illegal and their profits up.

Enjoy
FlyByNite

[zootly]

Sometimes I wonder why the tobacco companies aren't pushing for reform - it's about the only thing that could help their ailing industry.

[Joshuadrooney]

Why would they want to decriminalise it? The privatised prison industry makes too much from locking innocent people up to be considering that nonsense.

Or it might have something to do with people watching shows like The Thick Of It stoned like I do, and being able to join the dots and see just how stupid and outragous our governments are, have been for decades and look set to be for even more decades.

[zootly]

Why would they want to decriminalise it? The privatised prison industry makes too much from locking innocent people up

An often overlooked aspect.

[FlyByNite]

http://www.republicreport.org/2012/mari ... y-illegal/

Enjoy
FlyByNite

[StillSmokin]

Yeah, the ole Nutt Sack Job, sadly most politicians have their moral bullshit to peddle rather than fact, in this area especially.

A lot of people still have that "It's a drug, It's illegal, therefore it's got to be bad" mentality. Sadly, because it's illegal, a lot of people don't speak out and keep their use of drugs or views hidden.

Then there's the business types and their "lazy" stoners preconceoptions.

And with some politicians repeatedly telling us how bad drugs are all the time, constantly jumping on any propoganda bandwagon they can, for them to be seen as doing a u-turn on something as big as this is going to take a lot to do make that happen.

Also, it's far too easy for politicians (and a lot of other moral brigade types come to think of it) to blame a lot of ills on drugs and not to deal with the multitude of underlying problems of why people use them in the first place.

Whether a big shift, or a slow and gradual realisation as other countries seem to be starting to relax laws/legalise I hope it'll start to change here sooner rather than later.

[Uncle Ron]

"When will the UK govt start to listen?"
When the citizens wake the fuck up, take an interest in the local and federal elections, and elect representatives that listen.
If the elected representative doesn't properly represent, vote against them in the next election. Too damn easy...
Next...
...

[john quays]

Yeah, cheers Uncle Ron!

Easy? I'm not with you on this one.

Decrim isn't an issue which stirs enough people to go and vote. So relying on a sudden upsurge in votes for pro-decriminalisation parties is no good. Particularly as only the Greens remotely fit the bill and, sadly, no one takes them seriously. On this subject, in the UK at least, people power just isn't in the equation.

No, I think this is an issue which has to be kicked on by politicians like in 2001 and the opening of the Stockport and Worthing coffeeshops in the wake of Blunkett's downgrading of cannabis to Class C. If, for whatever reasons, a government calculated it was in their interests to allow some movement on the issue, we might see some progress then.

[zootly]

Some of the language is quite amusing

...for example where arresting one group of drug dealers leads to an increase in violence in the area as a result of a turf war between rival gangs...

I was fully expecting to see a reference to breakdancing on the next line.

Full report is available here http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/publication/a-fresh-approach/

[free_phil_spector]

"When will the UK govt start to listen?"
When the citizens wake the fuck up, take an interest in the local and federal elections, and elect representatives that listen.
If the elected representative doesn't properly represent, vote against them in the next election. Too damn easy...
Next...
...

That wouldnt work, as the only parties in the UK who would consider scrapping prohibition are not fit to run the country IMO.

[StillSmokin]

Yup, with the two main parties pretty much opposed to legalisation I think we'll be waiting forever if we wait for the Liberal Democrats to get into power, let alone the Greens, not likely that either's going to happen.

With quotes like this and such braod scope, the Conservatives still just want to lump under the "Drugs are Bad" mantra, Labour don't seem much better.

The home secretary, Theresa May, last month ruled out any moves towards decriminalisation, saying it would lead to further problems.

She told MPs she considered cannabis a gateway drug: "People can die as a result of taking drugs, and significant mental health problems can arise as a result of taking drugs."

Sadly the only gateway is that because it is illegal people have to buy it off dealers who sell all sorts of other stuff. Legalise it and the "gateway" argument dissapears.

And the last part is such vague bullshit - how can politicians get away with this sort of statement?

[free_phil_spector]

I've never agreed with the 'gateway' argument anyway. If it has any validity then it should be accepted that the real gateway drugs are alcohol and tobacco - I don't know a single pot smoker who didn't try one or both of those drugs before trying cannabis.

[Pyro]

An interesting comment piece from the Guardian following the article the OP posted: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... cy-inquiry It's drugs politics, not drugs policy, that needs an inquiry.

[Rusty Shackleford]

The UK government will never listen

Plus take into account the devolved nations. Speaking as an Northern Ireland citizen (Professionals at finding something to moan about) We still cant play competitive football on a Sunday without the local religious nutcases protesting, never-mind being able to walk into a shop to purchase toke-age

And the last part is such vague bullshit - how can politicians get away with this sort of statement?

Because people keep voting for them, plus Theresa May is a proper tool anyways

I've never agreed with the 'gateway' argument anyway. If it has any validity then it should be accepted that the real gateway drugs are alcohol and tobacco - I don't know a single pot smoker who didn't try one or both of those drugs before trying cannabis.

Same here, Strong Bow Cider was my gateway drug of choice

Anyways, not to worry its all wanky politician shit