The Government's chief drug adviser has been sacked after claiming cannabis, ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, sources said. Professor David Nutt, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, sparked outrage earlier this week after he criticised the decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug. It is understood Home Secretary Alan Johnson asked him to consider his position in the wake of the comments, saying he had "no confidence" in him. [continues 287 words]
A JUDGE in Liverpool has attacked the Government's decision to downgrade the classification of cannabis. Judge Brian Lewis said: "Over the years, there has sprung up a misunderstanding in some circles that cannabis is relatively harmless. "That misunderstanding was fostered in some respects by a foolish decision to re-classify cannabis from Class B to Class C. "Those who trade in cannabis, who sell it or play a part in selling it must understand the courts will not simply overlook cannabis or brush it under the carpet as if it is harmless and trivial." [continues 63 words]
The British Army loses almost a "battalion a year" due to illegal drug use, research said. The findings also showed a four-fold growth in soldiers testing positive for the class A drug cocaine. Research into compulsory drugs testing (CDT) of UK service personnel identified a rise in positive tests for illegal substances in the British Army from 517 individual cases in 2003, to 795 in 2005 and 769 in 2006. The findings, published by the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said the cost is nearly the equivalent of losing one battalion a year and higher than fatalities and serious casualties in both Iraq and Afghanistan. [continues 331 words]
The Government has heralded new figures showing record numbers of drug users are receiving treatment amid concerns some addicts are being given extra drugs for good behaviour. An official study found many clinics in England rewarded users with increased doses of heroin substitute methadone or anti-depressants for providing clean urine samples. The survey was conducted for the National Treatment Agency (NTA), which runs the Government's UKP500 million-a-year addiction treatment programme. The NTA admitted offering drugs for anything other than clinical need was unethical and said it wanted to see certain practices "squeezed out of the system", the BBC reported. [continues 180 words]
NEARLY 60 houses on Merseyside were raided yesterday as part of the police's biggest-ever one-day drugs blitzes in the region. From dawn, 300 officers swooped on 57 addresses, the highest number to be targeted in one day, seizing drugs and UKP250,000. Raids were continuing last night, but the force-wide Total Policing Operation resulted in at least 21 arrests. And, in an unprecedented coup, three people were charged before the day was over thanks to a mobile forensics lab. Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe, who took part in a raid on a house in Wirral, said last night: "The addresses targeted have been chosen thanks to intelligence received from the local community. [continues 165 words]
Five Merseyside Schools Are Poised To Begin Random Drugs Tests. David Higgerson Considers The Controversial Plan HUNDREDS of school-children face the prospect of being randomly screened for drugs next term. Northumbrian-based firm Preventx revealed it had started supplying five schools in this area with its kits. It follows on from trials elsewhere in the country, which have been criticised by some for infringing on the civil liberties of youngsters. Charity Drugscope is among critics. A spokesman said: "Testing risks driving drug use further underground, and could result in an increase in truancies and exclusions. [continues 1084 words]
THE father of a teenage ecstasy death victim last night vowed to read the disturbing post mortem report into her death to schoolchildren. Siobhan Delaney suffered an extreme brain reaction when she took one and a half tablets in a Liverpool city centre nightclub. Her father, Desmond, said he hoped reading the distressing documents, outlining how the tablets killed his daughter, would shock Merseyside's pupils away from experimenting with drugs. Mr Delaney said: "My beautiful daughter's life was cut short by this drug. She will never have the chance to fulfil her dreams. [continues 70 words]
THE owner of Merseyside's first cannabis cafe is vowing to stay open despite being raided twice by police. Former property developer Gary Youds spent ukp60,000 to launch the Amsterdam-style Tea Cafe in Holt Road, Kensington, Liverpool six weeks ago but didn't get city council permission. He was raided soon afterwards and was given a conditional discharge after he admitted allowing the premises to be used for the taking of a controlled drug. Several customers were cautioned for possession of cannabis during the raids. [continues 366 words]
Merseyside's first cannabis cafe is open for business. The Amsterdam-style Tea Cafe in Liverpool is tucked away behind a bona fide cafe and, despite being raided by police last month, is still trading. Owner Gary Youds was arrested but has now reopened the business in Holt Road, Kensington, and is pledging to fight any moves to close him down. Mr Youds asked the council for permission to set up the cafe but was refused. He appealed and was refused again but opened up anyway. [continues 223 words]
Adrian Butler On What Is A Live Issue As An Election Nears CANNABIS is shaping up to be an important issue in the coming general election. With crime always at the top of the agenda, Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week ordered a review of his predecessor David Blunkett's decision to downgrade the drug to Class C in January, 2004. The decision made cannabis the same as drugs such as Valium in the eyes of the law. This meant that, although you can go to prison for 14 years for dealing in cannabis, other penalties were reduced. The maximum sentence for possession has been cut from five to two years. [continues 1146 words]
Sir, I'm writing about: "DRUG WAR RAGES IN PRISON" (17 Jan. 05). If you cannot keep illegal drugs out of your highest-security prisons, and obviously you cannot, how do you reasonably expect to be able to keep illegal drugs out of your country with thousands of miles of coastline? Perhaps when you get the answer, could you share the answer with the politicians on the other side of the pond? You know, the country with the huge statue proclaiming liberty for all, but with more prisoners than any other country in history. Kirk Muse Mesa, Arizona U. S. A. [end]
FEUDING drug gangs have sparked a wave of violence inside Liverpool Prison, a damning government report revealed last night. Bullying and intimidation were rife and many parts of the building were deemed unsafe by prison inspectors. In a two-month spell, 73 assaults were recorded at the Walton prison. The number of prisoners claiming they were at risk of attack also doubled in ten months. And drug taking was widespread, with more than 30% of mandatory tests proving positive. Last month, the Daily Post revealed more than #150,000-worth of illegal substances thrown into the prison grounds had been seized. Smugglers used crossbows to fire contraband over the perimeter walls. [continues 353 words]
THE security chief of Liverpool Prison last night spoke of his determination to put a stop to the growing problem of drug smuggling to inmates. Governor Mick Blick, head of prison security and operations, laid bare the extent of the scourge of drugs in the region's biggest jail in an interview with the Daily Post. He said smuggling had reached such epidemic proportions that UKP 150,000 of narcotics has been seized by guards in the last six months after it was thrown over the prison's perimeter walls. [continues 295 words]
SUSPECTS arrested in large parts of Liverpool face instant drug tests and will be forced into treatment if they test positive, under a new crackdown announced yesterday. The Liverpool North and Liverpool South command units have been picked to pilot a tough new approach to snap the link between drugs and street crime. At present, anyone arrested in those two areas can be drug tested if they are formally charged. If positive, they get the option of treatment in return for a lesser sentence. [continues 481 words]
A multiple sclerosis sufferer who fought a legal battle in an attempt to use cannabis to relieve her symptoms has died. Elizabeth Ivol - known as Biz - from Orkney was taken to court last year on charges of supplying and possessing cannabis. A family spokesman at Ms Ivol's home in South Ronaldsay confirmed that she had died. The case against Ms Ivol, 56, collapsed in July 2003 when the Crown dropped the charges against her. Afterwards, Ms Ivol - who had publicly said she wanted to take her own life once the case was over - was taken to hospital in Orkney after being found unconscious in her home. -Despite openly admitting taking the drug, Ms Ivol pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying she felt she had done nothing wrong. [continues 147 words]
MUSIC legend Paul McCartney tried heroin while still in the Beatles. Sir Paul said he also "did coke." "I did coke for about a year. Coke and maybe some grass to balance it out. I was never completely crazy with cocaine," he said. "I'd been introduced to it and, at first, it seemed OK, like anything that's new and stimulating. When you start working your way through it, you start thinking, 'Mmm, this is not so cool an idea', especially when you start getting those terrible come-downs." [continues 142 words]
Liverpool will host a major conference on cannabis tomorrow. It comes just days after Tony Blair said school heads are to be given new powers to order pupils to undergo random drugs tests. The Prime Minister said head teachers would be issued with new guidance on how to deal with pupils they suspect are taking drugs including provisions for spot testing pupils. The conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the city centre will welcome experts in the field to give insight into the drug debate. On January 29 this year, cannabis was reclassified from a Class B to a Class C drug. That move has fuelled renewed interest in the topic and the conference brings together experts to provide information about key aspects of that debate. It has been organised by the Liverpool-based health advice service HIT along with Liverpool John Moores University's Centre of Public Health. Andrew Bennett, director of HIT, is giving one of the speeches at the conference. [continues 243 words]
DR RUSSELL Newcombe, of Liverpool John Moores University, has good reason to question a cannabis reclassification policy that leaves distribution in the hands of dealers who cut the drug with motor oil, dirt, glue, turpentine, disinfectant, ketamine, melted-down vinyl and animal faeces. Home Secretary David Blunkett's reclassification of cannabis is merely a step in the right direction. There is a big difference betw eencondoning cannabis use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalisation acknowledges the social reality of cannabis use and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. [continues 112 words]
CANNABIS is the most dangerous drug in Britain, according to a leading Liverpool academic. Dr Russell Newcombe, a national expert based at Liverpool John Moores University, claims dealers are cutting the drug with motor oil, dirt, glue, turpentine, disinfectant, ketamine, melted-down vinyl and animal faeces. Cannabis has today been down-graded to the same status as anabolic steroids and anti-depressants, changes which Dr Newcombe has branded a "mess and a muddle". In the biggest shake-up of Britain's drug laws for 30 years, cannabis will move from class B to class C. [continues 623 words]
A LIVERPOOL culture chief last night admitted she smokes cannabis to help battle crippling arthritis. Coun Berni Turner told the Daily Post she takes the drug to help ease the pain in her legs and hips. The chair of two of Liverpool council's most influential select commit-tees believes the drug should be legalised for medical use and said disabled people are having to turn to drug dealers for pain relief. Coun Turner, 40, who chairs the culture and tourism and the overview and scrutiny committees, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis four years ago. [continues 782 words]
