GOVERNMENT DRUGS POLICY IS 'EVIDENCE FREE ZONE': 'While the Government is hooked on hype, public policy has gone to pot'

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 31st Jul 2006

Following the publication of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee report 'Drug Classification: making a hash of it' Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the committee, said:

'Our inquiry showed the drugs classification system of successive governments to be neither evidence-based, nor even evidence-aware. From cannabis to ecstasy and from crystal meth to magic mushrooms, we found classification policy to be an evidence-free zone.'

'The Government, its advisors and police are in confusion about the relationship between drug classification and criminal penalties for possession, and there is chaos about the role of classification in sending out messages to drug users and young people.'

'When it comes to the classification of illegal drugs, while the Government is hooked on hype, public policy has gone to pot.'