In the UK the “Misuse of Drugs Act” is based  on a series of drug “classes” ranging from Class A to Class C. Very hard drugs like heroine, cocaine and methamphetamine are all classed as “A”, whereas Class C generally covers prescription drugs and the like.

These classes are defined based on the advice of a long standing research group known as the “Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs”. The council is made up of scientists, doctors, statisticians and their job is to work out how dangerous a drug is both to individuals and to the cost to British society as a whole. The group has been in existence since 1971 (the same time the Misuse of Drugs Act was instated).

Since the existence of the ACMD, the home secretary has always taken the advice of the council and the the drug classes have always been defined as such. However recently Jacqui Smith has decided to not only ignore the advice of the AMCD, but also to reverse previous decisions based on their advice.

In 2006 the British government downgraded Cannabis to a Class C drug from a Class B based on the advice of ACMD. I was happy with this decision as I had always thought that the punishment for cannabis possession was always too extreme for what it was.

Jacqui Smith and her staff in all their wisdom, decided to reverse the downgrade and put Cannabis back to a Class B drug. They have also stated recently that they are going to ignore the advice of the ACMD, who are suggesting that Ecstasy be downgraded from a Class A to a Class B drug.

The home secretary has all the facts available to her as to the dangers of the drugs and their impact (hell, it’s what the ACMD was setup to do). Since that is what the “Misuse of Drugs Act” is supposed to reflect, I can only assume that all Jacqui Smith is doing is bringing her own personal politics in on the matter.

As an MP, the home secretary is supposed to do what is in the best interests of the country and the electorate. As far as I’m concerned, she’s attempting to rule the UK as her own little country and not really listen to any reason. I wish that there was more power (or the populous was made more aware of a way) for the general public to oust a member of parliment and especially one from office in a more immediate fashion than waiting for a general election.

Politics in the UK seem to have really degenerated and I think it’s by time we had a change, so hopefully we’ll get an election soon. Need to register as a non-resident voter soon too.