Political fallout from the sacking of Professor David Nutt gathers momentum

Thursday, November 5, 2009

The political fallout from the sacking of Professor David Nutt as chairman of the United Kingdom's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) by Home Secretary Alan Johnson on Friday is gathering momentum.

	He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy.
—Alan Johnson

Professor Nutt recently pointed out during the course of a lecture that a number of socially and legally proscribed drugs, amongst them cannabis, on most objective criteria of risk assessment are less dangerous than a number of other drugs, notably tobacco and alcohol. Alan Johnson took exception to this.

In his letter dismissing Professor Nutt, Johnson asserted "He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy." An article was subsequently published in the online edition of The Times arguing that Professor Nutt's lecture appeared to conform to government guidelines throughout.

Two other members of the AMCD, Dr Les King and Marion Walter, have already resigned in protest at the sacking and it is likely that further resignations will follow. Cracks within the ruling Labour Party cabinet have also appeared, with Science Minister Lord Drayson saying that he had been "pretty appalled" by the decision.

A Facebook group in support of Professor Nutt has already gathered more than 17,000 members. A public demonstration in support of Professor Nutt is planned for Saturday to take place outside Downing Street.

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Sources

Facebook users. "Support and Reinstate Professor David Nutt: We want an evidence based drugs policy." — Facebook, November 3, 2009
"Second drugs adviser quits post" — BBC News Online, November 3, 2009
"Minister 'appalled' by Nutt exit" — BBC News Online, November 3, 2009
Mark Henderson. "David Nutt's controversial lecture conformed to government guidelines" — The Times Online, November 2, 2009
David Nutt. "Penalties for drug use must reflect harm" — The Times Online, November 2, 2009
"Government drugs adviser resigns" — BBC News Online, November 1, 2009
"Cannabis row drugs adviser sacked" — BBC News Online, October 30, 2009

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