---<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> News Release from: Danny Kushlick DirectorTransform Drug Policy Foundation<br /> <br /> No embargo<br /> <br /> Drugs Bill to be passed<br /> <br /> The conservatives and labour party have done a deal to pass the Drugs Bill<br /> during the wash up period. It has almost no support from anyone in<br /> Parliament, the drugs field or amongst legal NGOs and is a matter of<br /> embarrasment even in the Home Office.<br /> <br /> It has been extensively criticised in Parliament by:<br /> <br /> The Joint Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and MPs of all hues in<br /> Standing Committee<br /> <br /> In the drugs field by organisations including:<br /> <br /> Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Release, Drugscope and Turning Point,<br /> <br /> And in the legal field by:<br /> <br /> Liberty, the Law Society and JUSTICE<br /> <br /> Danny Kushlick said: 'This is a travesty. The Bill has no support and is<br /> universally criticised by all sides. The passing of this legislation makes a<br /> mockery of the entire apparatus of the legislative process. The legacy it<br /> would leave is intolerable.<br /> <br /> The Bill was conceived in Number 10, involved no outside consultation and<br /> had almost no input from the Home Office. What began life as a show of<br /> toughness in order to squeeze the conservatives and position itself with the<br /> Daily Mail will now become law. According to the Joint Parliamentary Human<br /> Rights Committee the Bill contravenes the European Convention on Human<br /> Rights and the negative impacts of the legislation could be felt for years<br /> to come.<br /> <br /> Labour and conservatives will not admit that the war on drugs has been lost<br /> and the Lib Dems are too defensive to trumpet their anti-prohibitionist drug<br /> policy. Voters in the upcoming election will find that they are the main<br /> losers in the parties' battle to be seen to be tough on drugs. This is<br /> symptomatic legislation for problems that cannot be dealt with through<br /> draconian laws. Tax payers will again pick up the tab for the failure of<br /> politicians to seriously engage with the issues that underly drug misuse,<br /> namely poverty, social deprivation and lack of opportunity. Prohibition is<br /> the problem, not the solution. Criminalising dealers forces the trade into<br /> the hands of organised crime and unregulated dealers. Further criminalising<br /> drug use and coercing users into treatment is unnecessary and ineffective.<br /> This is a very sad day for Parliament."<br /> <br /> ENDS<br /> <br /> Notes for editors<br /> <br /> A detailed breifing on the Bill is at: *<br /> http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_14_01_05.htm#joint*<http://www.t<br /> dpf.org.uk/MediaNews_LatestNews_14_01_05.htm><br /> <br /> Danny Kushlick<br /> <br /> Director<br /> <br /> Transform Drug Policy Foundation<br /> <br /> <br />Aurora Indica |  B52 |  Big Bud |  California Orange Bud |  Citral |  Four Way |  Haze |  Hindu Kush |  Indoor Mix |  Jock Horror |  K2 |  Maroc x Afghan |  Northern Light x Big Bud |  Northern Light x Haze |  Northern Light x Shiva |  Shiva |  Skunk #1 |  Skunk Red Hair |  Skunk Special |  Papaya |  White Rhino |  Haze 19 x Skunk |  Afghan |  Master Kush |  Northern Light |  Super Skunk |  Top 44 |  Durban Poison |  Early Bud |  Early Girl |  Early Misty |  Early Special |  Hawaii x Maui Waui |  Hawaii x Skunk #1 |  Hollands Hope |  KC 33 x Master Kush |  Mixed Sativa |  New Purple Power |  Swazi |  Swiss Miss |  Northern Bright |  Snow White (fem.) |  Supergirl |  Venus |  Wonder Woman |  Kaya |  PPP (fem.) |  Medusa |  Blue Mystic |  Chrystal |  Ice |  Misty |  PPP |  White Widow |  Nirvana Special |  White Rhino |  Snow White |  AK-48 |  Bubblelicious |  Silver Pearl |  Haze |  Jock Horror |  Northern Light x Haze |  White Rhino |  Haze 19 x Skunk |