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Scientist quits government drugs body over David Nutt sacking
(David Bebber/Reuters)
Professor David Nutt, chairman of the council, was sacked after saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine
Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
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A member of the official body advising the Government on drugs has resigned in protest at the sacking of its chairman in a row over the harm caused by cannabis.
Dr Les King, a chemist, quit the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and said the Home Secretary had denied the chairman’s right to free speech when he sacked him.
Professor David Nutt, chairman of the council, was sacked after saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine and had been reclassified for political reasons.
He said the drug had been upgraded from a Class C to a Class B drug against scientific evidence.
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Alan Johnson said he had “lost confidence” in Mr Nutt’s ability to give impartial advice after he criticised the Government.
But Dr King said today: “He (Professor Nutt) may be an advisor but he’s still got the right to say what he likes. That was being denied.”
Dr King, who became a full member of the council last year, said the government’s attitude to the panel has been shifting in recent years and home secretaries now had a “pre-defined political agenda” when they asked for its expert advice.
“It’s being asked to rubber stamp a pre-determined position,” he said.
“If sufficient members do resign, the committee will no longer be able to operate.”
Dr King said he believes the panel needs to become “free from government interference” in the same way as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), the organisation which advises on medicines and clinical practice.
“I don’t see why drugs can’t be done the same. It can be totally depoliticised. It’s all about harm. It’s a scientific issue,” he said.
There was an unconfirmed report that one other member of the council has also resigned following the firing of Professor Nutt on Friday.
Dr King, a former head of the Drugs Intelligence Unit in the Forensic Science Service, has been a member of the 31 strong council since 2008. His term of office was due to expire at the end of next year.
Dr King said there was a "very strong feeling" among the council's members.
“I'm not going to say just how many I think might resign but there is an extremely angry feeling among most council members.
“Amongst the scientists, I think a number will resign. It doesn't need the whole council to resign for the thing to stop working.”
RELATED LINKS
Scientists rebel at drug czar sacking
MPs blow off truth about drugs
Sacked drugs expert hits out at 'Luddite' Government
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that Dr King had resigned. The spokesperson added: ”We are not going to give a running commentary on the speculation of further resignations. We will not be commenting further.”
Professor Nutt said he believed the position of the council was now “untenable”.
He added: “I can’t believe any self respecting scientist would serve on it.”
Professor Nutt added: ”I cannot see how Alan Johnson, given what he's just said, which clearly indicates he doesn't understand how scientists think, how scientists on council could continue to work with him."
Mr Johnson said on Sky News that he thought Professor Nutt was wrong on cannabis but had sacked him for "crossing a line" into politics.
The Home Secretary had said he hoped there would not be resignations from the Council, adding: "This was not about Professor Nutt's views, which I respect though I don't agree with them."
He said: "What you cannot have is a chief adviser at the same time stepping into the political field and campaigning against government decisions. You can do one or the other. You can't do both."
Mr Johnson said that Professor Nutt had "crossed the line between offering advice and then campaigning against the government on political decisions".
The Advisory Council Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is an independent expert body that advises government on drug related issues in the UK. It was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
It makes recommendations to government on the control of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs, including classification and scheduling under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its regulations.
It considers any substance which is being or appears to be misused and of which is having or appears to be capable of having harmful effects sufficient to cause a social problem.
(David Bebber/Reuters)
Professor David Nutt, chairman of the council, was sacked after saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine
Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
1 COMMENT
RECOMMEND? (5)
A member of the official body advising the Government on drugs has resigned in protest at the sacking of its chairman in a row over the harm caused by cannabis.
Dr Les King, a chemist, quit the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and said the Home Secretary had denied the chairman’s right to free speech when he sacked him.
Professor David Nutt, chairman of the council, was sacked after saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine and had been reclassified for political reasons.
He said the drug had been upgraded from a Class C to a Class B drug against scientific evidence.
RELATED LINKS
Scientists rebel at drug czar sacking
MPs blow off truth about drugs
Sacked drugs expert hits out at 'Luddite' Government
Alan Johnson said he had “lost confidence” in Mr Nutt’s ability to give impartial advice after he criticised the Government.
But Dr King said today: “He (Professor Nutt) may be an advisor but he’s still got the right to say what he likes. That was being denied.”
Dr King, who became a full member of the council last year, said the government’s attitude to the panel has been shifting in recent years and home secretaries now had a “pre-defined political agenda” when they asked for its expert advice.
“It’s being asked to rubber stamp a pre-determined position,” he said.
“If sufficient members do resign, the committee will no longer be able to operate.”
Dr King said he believes the panel needs to become “free from government interference” in the same way as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), the organisation which advises on medicines and clinical practice.
“I don’t see why drugs can’t be done the same. It can be totally depoliticised. It’s all about harm. It’s a scientific issue,” he said.
There was an unconfirmed report that one other member of the council has also resigned following the firing of Professor Nutt on Friday.
Dr King, a former head of the Drugs Intelligence Unit in the Forensic Science Service, has been a member of the 31 strong council since 2008. His term of office was due to expire at the end of next year.
Dr King said there was a "very strong feeling" among the council's members.
“I'm not going to say just how many I think might resign but there is an extremely angry feeling among most council members.
“Amongst the scientists, I think a number will resign. It doesn't need the whole council to resign for the thing to stop working.”
RELATED LINKS
Scientists rebel at drug czar sacking
MPs blow off truth about drugs
Sacked drugs expert hits out at 'Luddite' Government
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that Dr King had resigned. The spokesperson added: ”We are not going to give a running commentary on the speculation of further resignations. We will not be commenting further.”
Professor Nutt said he believed the position of the council was now “untenable”.
He added: “I can’t believe any self respecting scientist would serve on it.”
Professor Nutt added: ”I cannot see how Alan Johnson, given what he's just said, which clearly indicates he doesn't understand how scientists think, how scientists on council could continue to work with him."
Mr Johnson said on Sky News that he thought Professor Nutt was wrong on cannabis but had sacked him for "crossing a line" into politics.
The Home Secretary had said he hoped there would not be resignations from the Council, adding: "This was not about Professor Nutt's views, which I respect though I don't agree with them."
He said: "What you cannot have is a chief adviser at the same time stepping into the political field and campaigning against government decisions. You can do one or the other. You can't do both."
Mr Johnson said that Professor Nutt had "crossed the line between offering advice and then campaigning against the government on political decisions".
The Advisory Council Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is an independent expert body that advises government on drug related issues in the UK. It was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
It makes recommendations to government on the control of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs, including classification and scheduling under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its regulations.
It considers any substance which is being or appears to be misused and of which is having or appears to be capable of having harmful effects sufficient to cause a social problem.
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