Know Your Enemy

"The psychoactive substances bill is the most oppressive law in terms of controlling moral behaviour since the Act of Supremacy in 1558 that banned the practice of the Catholic faith. Both are based on a moral superiority that specifies the state will decide on acceptable actions and beliefs even if they don’t affect other people. Worse, it won’t work – evidence from other countries such as Poland and Ireland that have tried such blanket bans shows an increase in deaths as people go back to older illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin."

David Nutt, who was sacked from his position as chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs by Alan Johnson for having the temerity to challenge the Labour government's policy, is scathing in his condemnation of their Tory counterparts' new proposed legislation in this Guardian article explaining why drugs are illegal.