Pubdate: Tue, 03 Nov 2009
Source: Metro (UK)
Copyright: 2009 Associated Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.metro.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4714
Author: John Higginson, Staff Writer

DRUG EXPERTS RALLY ROUND SACKED DAVID NUTT

David Nutt Receives Support Over Alan Johnson Row

Members of the drugs advisory body have demanded  showdown talks with
the home secretary after his  sacking of Prof David Nutt.

Scientists said they had 'serious concerns' about Alan  Johnson's
decision to remove their colleague and  questioned whether they could
continue to work with the  government.

In a letter to Mr Johnson, members on the Advisory  Council on the
Misuse of Drugs threatened to quit and  called for 'clarity and
assurances' from ministers  about how their advice would be treated in
future.

Earlier, Mr Johnson escalated his criticism of Prof  Nutt, accusing
him of breaching the official code of  conduct for advisers.

Prof Nutt had failed to give advance warning of last  week's paper in
which he said alcohol and tobacco were  more dangerous than ecstasy
and LSD, and questioned the  decision to downgrade cannabis, Mr
Johnson said.

Mr Johnson, called to the Commons to answer an  emergency question
from the Tories, denied a review of  the body - announced two weeks
ago - was linked to the  row over Prof Nutt.

While praising the work of the ACMD as invaluable, and  agreeing to
meet its remaining members in person, he  stated again he had lost
confidence in the professor.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the decision  was 'the right
one'.

Two other scientists quit over the weekend. Last year,  alcohol
directly caused 7,341 deaths, while cigarettes  led to 114,000.

There were 12 deaths from ecstasy and none from  cannabis, according
to the University of London. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr