UK - Transform gives evidence to Home Affairs Select Committee

[edgarshade]

(I realise this is a few weeks ago now but I don't think it has been posted yet and I am sure this would be interesting to anyone else who's been following the HASC inquiry. Previous recent speakers have been Russell Brand, Peter Hitchens and David Nutt)

TDPL

Monday, July 30, 2012

Below we have embedded the Parliament TV coverage of Danny from Transform’s recent appearance as a witness before the Home Affairs Select Committee (HAC) as part of its enquiry into UK drug policy. He appeared alongside Niamh Eastwood from Release and was followed by Tom Lloyd, former Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire. Worth a look, especially if you're interested to see how reformers present what is often seen as difficult information in a somewhat hostile environment.

More...
http://transform-drugs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/transform-gives-evidence-to-home.html

Transcript...
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/uc184-iii/uc18401.htm

 

[edgarshade]

From the transcript...

Q435 Mr Winnick: I am not unsympathetic, as you may or may not know, to the view that you have just expressed, but what do you say to the argument that, in fact, on the use of drugs, all the statistics show the use of drugs is such that it is falling. For example, it fell significantly from 11% in 1996 to 8.8% in 2010-11. Cannabis fell from around 9.5% in 1996 to 6.5% in 2010-11, so the argument is it is falling. With all the failures, the Justice Secretary said; if you are going to do what you have advocated for so many years, it will reverse the trend.

THIS is why we are seeing articles showing drug use is decreasing. Because prohibition now has to justify itself as working whereas in the past it didn't need justifying and increased drug use statistics were used to justify ramping up the only solution people knew of.

 

[23536]

you guys better start doing more drugs over there!