Federation reaction to ongoing drugs row

02 November 2009

   

Reacting to the ongoing row between the government and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Simon Reed, Vice-Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

 

“Whilst it is right that the government has independent experts they can call upon for advice, some individuals at the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) have overstepped the mark, creating confusion amongst the public about the relative harm caused by cannabis in comparison to alcohol.

 

“The simple fact is that any drug is capable of causing harm and to suggest that it is not is irresponsible. Whilst we cannot turn the clock back, I have no doubt that if someone were seeking to introduce alcohol today the possible perils of excess by a minority would be rightly highlighted and it would be prohibited. Just because we are unable to address this retrospectively is no excuse for the chairman of the ACMD and his colleagues to suggest moving the goalposts yet again on the grading of cannabis. This sends out the wrong message to young people; many of whom were already confused as to the relative dangers of the drug anyway. I just hope this whole fiasco doesn’t do more harm than good, if some see this advice as a green light to try cannabis.”

Click here to download in pdf format