UK - Drugs inquiry to hear evidence from Richard Branson

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edgarshade

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Guardian

Alan Travis, home affairs editor
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 19 January 2012 17.05 GMT
The Virgin group head, Sir Richard Branson, is to appear in person to argue the case for decriminalising drug use at the start of a Commons home affairs committee inquiry.

Branson is to give evidence to MPs next Tuesday alongside Ruth Dreifuss, the former president of Switzerland, who served with him on the Global Commission on Drugs Policy. The commission's report, published last year, declared that the war on drugs had failed and recommended introducing a regulated legal supply of cannabis and possibly other drugs.

MPs will also take evidence from the UK Drug Policy Commission, a thinktank headed by Dame Ruth Runciman. They are expected to visit South America, including Colombia, during the course of their inquiry.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said he was looking forward to hearing from Branson and Dreifuss about the global commission's view that the war on drugs had failed and it was time to decriminalise drugs.

"Drugs can be a hugely controversial issue but we hope that this will be the start of a balanced, well-reasoned inquiry," said Vaz.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/19/drugs-inquiry-evidence-richard-branson?newsfeed=true
 
Why richard branson? I don't know too much about the guy. But wouldn't a scientist or someone who has more qualifications than "'i'm rich & support this cause" make more sense?
 
Newbierock said:
Why richard branson? I don't know too much about the guy. But wouldn't a scientist or someone who has more qualifications than "'i'm rich & support this cause" make more sense?
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the government listen to money, not scientists.
 
^ Exactly. We should all hope for the best, however, it is reasonable to consider the fact that this has a chance of going ignored just like every other attempt to persuade goverments to have a different approach to drugs in general.
 
Guardian

Richard Branson expected to tell MPs: it's time to end the war on drugs
Virgin boss heads the list of campaigners who are set to appear at select committee hearing

Jamie Doward and Lucy Fulford
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 January 2012 21.00 GMT

With reader comments

Health experts have expressed concerns that the first parliamentary inquiry for 10 years into Britain's policy on illegal drugs will start by accepting testimony in favour of decriminalisation from Sir Richard Branson.
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"I am delighted that Sir Richard Branson… will be presenting evidence to the committee alongside the former Swiss president Ruth Dreifuss," said Keith Vaz, the chair of the committee. "I look forward to hearing the commission's evidence on why the war on drugs has failed and why it is now time to decriminalise drugs and focus on providing treatment to drug users in a bid to bring an end to the destructive cycle of addiction."
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Vaz has indicated that the inquiry will address all aspects of drug policy. "We will be talking to a number of people," he said. "Drugs can be a hugely controversial issue but we hope that this will be the start of a balanced, well-reasoned inquiry." The committee will also hear evidence from the UK Drug Policy Commission an independent body providing objective analysis of Britain's drug policy. The commission has recently investigated the new wave of psychoactive substances, better known as "legal highs", as well as the effect of austerity measures on UK drug policing.
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More...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/21/richard-branson-drugs-campaigners?newsfeed=true
 
Newbierock said:
Why richard branson? I don't know too much about the guy. But wouldn't a scientist or someone who has more qualifications than "'i'm rich & support this cause" make more sense?
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In a better world, yes it would. I'll take what I can get.
 
I rate him for that and he has such influence that he will have a positive effect on society regarding the use of drugs. I personally think cannabis should be legalised and be bale to be bought to be used recreationally and psychedelics should be able able to be bought if you have payed for a license to use them. Any irresponsible public use would result in revoking of the license. I think this would boost the economy, it's no doubt though that Branson is interested because theres going to be cash in it for him, cannabis legalisation even if only for medical use is going to happen, without a doubt it's going to happen.
 
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Daily Mail - '75% of my children’s generation have smoked cannabis': Richard Branson tells MPs drug issue is health issue, NOT crime problem

By Julian Gavaghan

Last updated at 1:45 PM on 24th January 2012

With reader comments

Sir Richard Branson believes three quarters of young adults have smoked cannabis and told MPs today that use of drugs should be treated as a public health problem and not a crime. The Virgin boss, who admitted using marijuana, said current policies have failed to abate people’s addictions. Asked about his own admission that he had used cannabis, Sir Richard said: ‘I would say 50% of my generation had smoked cannabis. I would say 75% of my children’s generation had smoked cannabis.’

Sir Richard, whose daughter Holly is 30 and son Sam is 26, was invited to give evidence Commons Home Affairs Select Committee because he is a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.
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‘If you talk to any individual in a position of authority or responsibility, they know that the current system is not right and they know that a health-based system is right and they're just worried whether, politically, they can be brave enough to push them (the changes) through,’ Sir Richard said.

‘David Cameron then was not the prime minister. He now is the Prime Minister.

‘We hope we can give him the facts to make him brave enough to change public policy for the benefit of society as a whole.’
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More...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-health-issue-NOT-crime-problem.html?ITO=1490
 
Surprisingly neutral article for the Daily Mail. Posted because the reader comments tend to be the most entertaining. It was probably a bit bold for him to mention the 50% and 75% figures since I don't know of any poll that would back that up.
 
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