Resume. Den komite der rådgiver regeringen i England omkring stoflovgivning hedder "
UK Science and Technology Select Committee". Den er kommet med en tabel der anslår de mest udbredte stoffers sociale og fysiske skadevirkninger. I loven klassificeres stofferne i A-B-C-grupper, alt efter hvor "slemme" de er. Problemet som skemaet viser er, at lovgivningen ikke afspejler stoffernes egentlige skadevirkninger. LSD klassificeres om et af de mindre farlige stoffer, men er stadig i gruppe A. Det er dette misforhold, som komitéen råder regeringen at få rettet op på, da hverken politi eller brugere respekterer en lovgivning, som ikke afspejler empirisk data. Kritikken lyder endvidere, at regeringen lytter og lovgiver for meget i forhold til mediernes dækning af området.
Psilocybinsvampe fremgår ikke af tabellen, de blev forbudt i UK sidste år (klasse A). På trods af at komiteen ikke havde haft tid til at gennemgå de videnskabelige data for svampenes skadelighed.
Citat:
WHEN it comes to danger, cigarettes and alcohol beat ecstasy, LSD and cannabis, according to a league table of the harm they cause.
The UK Science and Technology Select Committee, which advises the government, commissioned an assessment of 20 legal and illegal stimulants to examine the actual social and physical harm they cause based on scientific evidence.
Controlled drugs are currently categorised to reflect the penalties they incur for possession and dealing. The highest category, class A, carries the largest legal penalties and includes heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and magic mushrooms. Class B includes speed and barbiturates, while cannabis and some tranquillisers are in class C.
However, the new league table puts alcohol in the top five most harmful drugs, alongside heroin, cocaine, barbiturates and street methadone. Ecstasy and LSD, currently categorised as class A drugs, come well below both tobacco and alcohol.
“The new league table puts alcohol in the top five most harmful drugs”
The UK drug classification system needs to be overhauled to reflect the harm these substances cause, says the committee. "The government, its advisors and the police are in confusion about the relationship between drug classification and criminal penalties for possession," says committee member Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat MP. "We've made our recommendations to the government and we're very hopeful that they will act."
From issue 2563 of New Scientist magazine, 05 August 2006, page 5
Artiklen er fra
New Scientist.
Drug danger league table revealedSe i øvrigt:
http://www.drugs.gov.uk/drugs-laws/acmd/
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