Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2001
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald
Contact:  http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189
Author: Craig Watson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

RESEARCH SUPPORTS MOVES TO DOWNGRADE ECSTASY

RESEARCH carried out among drug users in the west of Scotland has backed 
the controversial view of English police chiefs that ecstasy should be 
downgraded.

The in-depth study was carried out throughout the 1990s and the results 
have just been published. Interviews with more than 200 people from Glasgow 
and surrounding areas formed the basis of the research.

One of the co-authors, Professor Jason Ditton, director of the Scottish 
Centre for Criminology, said the research proved that ecstasy users were 
"just normal people" who should not be criminalised for their behaviour.

That view was put forward by senior Metropolitan Police officers last week. 
Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Hayman told the Commons home affairs 
select committee that ecstasy should be re-classified from a Class A to a 
Class B drug, with reduced penalties, if there were good medical or 
scientific reasons for doing so.

Commander Brian Paddick said arresting people for possession of ecstasy was 
a "waste of valuable resources" and not a high priority.

Professor Ditton endorsed the police officers' comments, adding that it was 
"absurd for ecstasy ever to be a Class A drug". He said: "Previously, all 
drug research has been based on the fact that there is something different 
about the users. The central thing we found is that ecstasy users are just 
normal people. This is a normal activity for these people and they 
shouldn't be persecuted for what they do."

He estimated that around one million tablets are consumed in the UK every 
weekend.

However, senior police officers in Scotland yesterday urged a more cautious 
approach to the issue. Jim Orr, the director of the Scottish Drug 
Enforcement Agency, warned that ecstasy remained a dangerous drug.

Jack Urquhart, general secretary of the Association of Scottish Police 
Superintendents, said the debate over ecstasy should be differentiated from 
that surrounding cannabis, which has some medicinal properties. He said the 
status of ecstasy should be considered with more caution.
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