Recently the British government’s chief drug advisor, professor David Nutt has has argued that alcohol and cigarettes are more dangerous than cannabis, LSD and ectasy, based on scientific evidence. In his argument, he claims that all drugs, regardless of their legal status should be ranked by a “harm” index. On this index he puts alcohol fifth behind cocaine, heroin, barbituates and methadone. He places tobacco ninth ahead of cannabis, LSD and ecstasy. He claimed that the legality/illegalityof a substance was an artificial separation which decreases the public’s ability to be better informed of the risks they are taking.
A prominent scientist with a valueable argument in an area that needs enlightened debate.
The interesting postscript to this is that, following his comments, he was sacked from his position by the British Home Office.
I wonder of this will gag the debate or give it further fuel