If you're from England this is old (and very big) news, but I'm interested to know if reports of Prof. Nutt's heroism have reached foreign shores.
Prof Nutt was last month sacked from his position as head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the British Government, because he made a public statement that British citizens should be more worried about the dangers of alcohol than cannabis or ecstacy, and that he had been forced to come public with this because the government had ignored the overwhelming scientific evidence on so many occasions that he felt he had to take action himself.
In my opinion that is the act of a truly noble man. Here's an extract of what he had to say himself:
"IF THERE is one thing that politicians can and should do to limit the damage caused by illegal drugs, it is to take careful note of the evidence and develop a rational drug policy. Some politicians find it easier to ignore the evidence, and pander to public prejudice instead.
I can trace the beginning of the end of my role as chairman of the UK’s official advisory body on drugs to the moment I quoted a New Scientist editorial (14 February, p 5). Entitled, fittingly enough, “Drugs drive politicians out of their minds”, the editorial asked the reader to imagine being seated at a table with two bowls, one containing peanuts, the other the illegal drug MDMA (ecstasy). Which is safer to give to a stranger? Why, the ecstasy of course..."
To read the rest of Nutt's argument go to
http://www.brainwaving.com/2009/11/04/david-nutt-governments-should-get-real-on-drugs/[youtube]EC2FDE1CE49AE0D9[/youtube]