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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Second drugs adviser quits post
BBC News Sunday 01 Nov 2009 Marion Walker's departure from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs came after Dr Les King's resignation. Prof Nutt was sacked after calling cannabis less harmful than alcohol and nicotine, and saying it was upgraded to Class B for political reasons. Mr Johnson said Prof Nutt was sacked for "crossing a line" into politics. On Sunday, Prof Nutt revealed Ms Walker, ACMD member from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, had stepped down. However, she could not be reached for comment. Ms Walker is also clinical director of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's substance misuse service. "I'm not going to say just how many I think might resign but there is an extremely angry feeling among most council members." Dr Les King Prof Nutt said her departure "means we have no-one now looking at that vast group of people who prescribe drugs and advise people about drugs, drug harms from the over-the-counter and prescription side". The BBC understands that several other members of the ACMD are currently considering their next move, in response to Prof Nutt's dismissal. The sacking came after Prof Nutt said cannabis had been upgraded by the government to Class B against scientific evidence. 'Angry feeling' The reclassification had been for political reasons and "on the whim of the prime minister", he claimed. There was "very strong feeling" among the council's members over Prof Nutt's sacking, Dr King said as he confirmed his own resignation. "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." Dr King was appointed on 3 April 2008 and wrote a book on the Misuse of Drugs Act in 2003. He was previously head of the Drugs Intelligence Unit in the Forensic Science Service. Prof Nutt has told the BBC that the council's position is "untenable". He said: "I think the position of scientists on the council's untenable, because 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." Confirming Dr King's resignation, the Home Office said in a statement: "We're not going to give a running commentary on the speculation around further resignations. We will not be commenting further." Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Mr Johnson said he thought his ex-chief drugs adviser was "wrong" on cannabis - but sacked him for "crossing a line" into politics. 'Crossed the line' "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." If governments appoint expert advice they shouldn't dismiss it so lightly Lord Robert Winston Mr Johnson said that Prof Nutt had "crossed the line between offering advice and then campaigning against the government on political decisions". But Labour peer Lord Robert Winston told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend he was "very surprised and disappointed" by Mr Johnson's actions. He warned that the government would be ignored if it gave advice to the public that did not take account of scientists' opinions and said Prof Nutt had made a "very reasonable" point about the relative dangers of illegal and legal drugs. Lord Winston, professor of science and society at Imperial College London, said: "I think that if governments appoint expert advice they shouldn't dismiss it so lightly. I think it shows a rather poor understanding of the value of science." Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat science spokesman, said: "I fear there will be many more resignations unless the government acts to restore confidence among its independent scientific advisers, upon which it relies for advice on matters from nuclear safety to childhood vaccination." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8336884.stm
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