Re: PM backs re-classifying cannabis

On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 01:37:23 -0700 (PDT), Jethro
<jethro_uk@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>It's ironic that the overall effect of this episode will be to
>strengthen peoples perception that "advice" from the government is
>politically motivated, and of questionable value, which will lead to
>more young people ignoring it.

>Going back 20 years, I and my peers were fully aware that govenment
>warnings about cannabis were a crock, and proceeded accordingly. And
>once you realise the government is lying to you about one thing, it
>becomes much easier to believe they would lie about something else.

When Brown reclassifies against the recommendation of the ACMD it will
do massive and irrepairable damage to the governments credibility. The
message will be out on the streets that the government are a bunch of
prats who ignore the scientists and talk a load of bollocks about
drugs.

All their warnings about the evils of cannabis will be regarded as so
much pissing in the wind and nobody will take anything they say about
any drugs seriously. It will be just so obvious they are playing
politics and doing whatever gains them the most for the moment in
direct contradiction of the science.

Any teenager who says he won't try a bit of blow because the
government says it's bad will be laughed off the playground for being
a gullible prick.

Of course this cynicism about government credibility will inevitably
extend beyond drugs policy and lead to a general disillusionment
amongst young people about government and politics in general. 

This will probably be the most damaging result of Brown reclassifying
cannabis to class B.

Svenne