Drugs Safer Than Booze - Govt's Chief Adviser

As controversial as I may sound, I agree with Professor Nut.
However, that's not to say that I don't think that drugs are dangerous!

The fact is that alcohol causes more deaths a year, not only due to the health implications, but also through the causes of drink-driving, violent deaths, deaths related to domestic incidences and accidents while under the influence. Furthermore, alcohol is more readily available: there's no dodgy deal required or risk of breaking the law while trying to obtain it (unless you're a minor!). It's cheap and you can get it from anywhere, at almost anytime- from the local corner shop that opens at 11am to the nightclub open till 6am.

Cannabis is not as much of dangerous drug; I've done thouragh research on this topic, many times, and I'm not aware of any reported deaths due to consumption. Marijuana- grown naturally- can have it's beneficial uses. However, now-a-days, we have a breed of weed called Super Skunks, which are grown hydroponically and don't see natural daylight. They are often also sprayed with chemicals and that combined with the cross-genetics of the plant, create an addictive high.
Then there's the tabbacco, that's smoked with it: most spliffs are not filtered, which means more tar & nicotine is inhaled. Which in turn increases a toker's chances of developing lung or mouth cancer. If cannabis is ingested (Brownie anyone?) there is no increase in the risk of cancer.
Furthermore, there are the implications of being under the influence. Cannabis slows the reactions of the user and can incite drowsiness- therefore, there is the risk of death & injury when driving or operating machinery! Cannabis also heightens the olfactory and auditory senses, which can often make people think things that are not real- for instance, a radio on in another room may be percieved as someone calling them or talking to them. There's also the issue of paranoia and anxiety- however, these are usually symptoms that disappear when the user has 'sobered up'.
Nevertheless, some people smoke & toke, experience some of the downsides of smoking dope...and those downsides don't go away.
With cannabis, there is a small risk of mental health problems and usually these will be present in people who have smoked regularly and from an early age (look for the Karolina Institute studies or the Austrailian studies on cannabis on the net- both lots of experiments done in the early 2000's- very interesting!). Furthermore, there is usually the onset of mental illness present in the users background history (childhood, genetic influence, persistant personality disorder).

As a drug, it's the lesser of a lot of evils- with alcohol (IMO) being at the top. Additionally, cannabis has not be proven to be physically addictive, whereas alcohol is.

When it comes to LSD & Ecstasy- again, the death rate is relatively small compared to alcohol and nicotine. Furthermore, they are situational drugs- users tend to take these at particular times, and while the feelings (while under the influence) and the party atmosphere can become addictive- there is no physical dependency with either drug. Although yet again, there are downsides. Dehydration and being out- of- control; the physical effects of too much in the system and the behaviour while 'floating on a sea of energy'.
And of course, there's the psychological implications. LSD trips can reoccur years after the journey has ended; memory problems and anxiety can be induced by regular consumption.

However, once again- the illegal drugs, such as LSD, Ecstasy and Marijuana are no more dangers, than the very legal alcohol.
And that was pretty much David Nutt's point- for which he had good evidence for.

He challenged the bigotry of the government, yet when it was splashed across the media, that point was completely missed. He wasn't advocating illegal drugs: he was simply pointing out that the drugs that society have been conditioned to accept as socially acceptable, are no more safe than the ones labelled 'Illegal'.
Where a parent panics if their child is caught smoking pot, they're cracking open a bottle of wine & letting the kid sip a bit. Is that not double standards? Again, with our wonderful government; drugs are illegal and no one should be doing them, but it's ok to get p!ssed 24 hours of the day!

I'm not in favour of complete decriminalisation of any drug- but I seriously think the drugs classification laws need to be reviewed and overhauled. I also believe that there should be a higher tax on alcohol and a regression back to drinking hours and legal purchase times. Additionally, I think the age of drinking legally is appropriate at 21 years old.

Nevertheless, drugs are drugs- legal or illegal. If someone NEEDS to get high, happy or hammered, they need education (about the possible consequences of use & abuse) and psychological support.