This debate is now closed.
Should the government be listening to scientists about cannabis?
Two more government drug advisors have quit after their chairman was sacked on Friday for saying cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes. Do you agree with his sacking?
Health Secretary Alan Johnson says Professor David Nutt's comments, which criticised the Government's tough approach to cannabis and ecstasy, were straying into politics.
He was sacked after saying in a lecture that the government only upgraded cannabis to Class B - against the council's advice - for political reasons and "on the whim of the prime minister".
It's thought more top scientists could also quit in protest with some claiming they can't carry on when their advice is ignored.
Should the government be listening to what their advisors are saying about drugs? Is there any point in having an advisory board when the government doesn't take their advice? Was Alan Johnson right to sack Professor Nutt?
Published:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 10:10 GMT
10:10 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009, 10:39 GMT
10:39 UK
The government are a JOKE, why pay someone to research something if they cant speak the truth about it. The truth is now out, how many people die of cigarettes n alcohol a year? 100's of thousands.. how many people die of cannabis, extasy an lsd a year? less than 100, and people that do die from it 9/10 times its not the drug that killed them! It was the actions whilst on the drug, i.e. flooding thier body with fluids. THE GOVERNMENT IS A BIG JOKE!
Kenny, Berwick upon Tweed
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Added:
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009, 10:18 GMT
10:18 UK
The government do not have to follow every word of advice given to them by disinterested experts, but they cannot simply sack one for being vocal about his objection to government policy.
Sasha Millwood, Essex, United Kingdom
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Added:
Tuesday, 3 November, 2009, 11:51 GMT
11:51 UK
I smoked weed since i was 12 years. and no i am 17 I definetely think it should be legalised,the government could make money by taxing it and its your own choice if you wish to smoke it.I feel after fishing when i get home smoke a spliff it's a lovely feeling when you get in the bath. just make it legalised becoz with the Recession there wont be 1 no more becoz the money they will make of it wil be millions thank you
rhys, cardiff
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Added:
Tuesday, 3 November, 2009, 11:20 GMT
11:20 UK
i think that goverment should listen to scientists about cannnabis because the advice will help them to do something about drugs
Catherine Oliver, Crawley, United Kingdom
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Added:
Tuesday, 3 November, 2009, 24:33 GMT
00:33 UK
I would have agree with this because, Cannibis doesn't have any chemicals in it like cigarettes do, Alcohol is the cause of many domestic crimes.Cigarettes also cause harm to society
Paul, Tucson
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 20:23 GMT
20:23 UK
I like a drink as much as the next man, probably a bit more in fact, but it looks like that the government has its own agenda, and will only listen to people who share the same blinkered view, if it is a scientific fact that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes, then we the public should definately know about, and more importantly, the government should act on it.
When will politicians get it into their heads where our health is concerned, telling the truth is a good thing.
[markus33], whitehaven, United Kingdom
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 20:11 GMT
20:11 UK
Well, you want to legalize cannabis, you might as well legalize other hard drugs. The effects of any attempt to do this will be devastating on the public. The government should stay strong on its stand.
John Opara, Atlanta, United States
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 19:56 GMT
19:56 UK
If he wasn't being paid how can he be sacked ? If he wasn't being paid then he obviously felt under no obligation to toe the line of his bosses and he told the truth as he saw it. Isn't that what impartial advice is all about. On the other hand the government appoints thousand of hightly paid "experts" in their quangos who will just say whatever they are told to say.
John, Salisbury
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 19:48 GMT
19:48 UK
I was always under the impression that cannabis use was criminalised because the canabis plant ( hemp ) made better cloth than cotton ( more durable and better all round ). It was a political move by business apparently to kill off the competition or to make more profit.
If it's cultivation was legal the cotton industry would take a bit of a nose dive.
[william7667]
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 19:47 GMT
19:47 UK
The Gov't should act on truth wherever truth is found. God knows finding truth is getting more & more difficult.
If the Gov’t doubted Professor Nutt’s findings, it should have consulted another scientist (or ten other scientists).
As it turned out Professor Nutt was fired for speaking the truth, which happened to contradict a publically-announced Gov't decision. Well, that's a fine, upstanding Gov't to work for, isn't it?
Regina-Gabrielle Berry, Toronto, Canada
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 19:45 GMT
19:45 UK
The fact that we taxpayers are subsidising these scientific advisers should guarantee the acceptance of their advice by whatever government is in power. To not only disregard their advice, but terminate the contract of an acknowledged expert for his lack of sycophancy, is yet another example of this government's refusal to acknowledge the will of the people. When will Parliament submit a vote of "No Confidence" against this government and force a general election?
Browned Off, Normandy, United Kingdom
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 19:04 GMT
19:04 UK
...and a few more comments! LEGALIZE CANNABIS & open coffee shops!
-we're in a recession; this will not only help the economy with the taxation of cannabis but will also create jobs within the coffee shops.
-it will definitely increase tourism
-it will reduce the dealers on the streets
-it will free up much needed space in our already overcrowded jails by getting the harmless potheads out of there
-and will probably also reduce the anger & violence on the streets by these unruly teenagers
Black Wave
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 18:56 GMT
18:56 UK
I'm RAGING!! The sacking of the advisor is TOTALLY wrong. Putting the person in place to provide scientifically substantiated advice and then sacking him for doing so...? Undermining his predecessor and the government?! If the previous decision was wrong and unfounded then yes, it needs to be revised!! Cannabis being linked to schizophrenia has been blown out of the water already! I also agree, alcohol and cigs are more dangerous because they are used EVERY DAY and is an accepted part of society
Black Wave
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 18:48 GMT
18:48 UK
i have had a father who was an alcoholic and an uncle that is addicted to drugs, it started with cannabis.D.Nutt has simplified the matter too much by simply looking at fatalities and not the bigger picture and has therefore made a mockery of everything my family suffers through.I agree that alcohol should be seen as a higher risk substance but how can you compare any drugs to the risks of riding a horse!He has never had to hear a loved one say they want to die because drugs ruined their life.
anon, leicester
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Added:
Monday, 2 November, 2009, 16:50 GMT
16:50 UK
Yes and no, we all need to remember our government has enough problems trying to control alcohol and tobacco. Then throw cannabis into the equation and they wont know whether they are coming or going, however yes alot of tax can be made from it. But then they will have to deal with similiar problems alcohol and tabacco produce, plus they are slowly trying to kill off the tabacco industry, they wont admit it but they are! Ive been a smoker of marijuana for over 16 years.
Rich, Surrey
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This Have Your Say is
CLOSED
DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 33
Published comments: 30
Rejected comments: 3
From Have Your Say
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