- Reaction score
- 1,697
Professor David Nutt, the government's chief drug adviser, has been sacked a day after claiming that ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol.
Nutt incurred the wrath of the government when he claimed in a paper that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than many illegal drugs, including LSD, ecstasy and cannabis.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The home secretary has asked Professor Nutt to resign as chair of the ACMD [Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs].
"In a letter he [Alan Johnson] expressed surprise and disappointment over Professor Nutt's comments which damage efforts to give the public clear messages about the dangers of drugs.
"We remain determined to crack down on all illegal substances and minimise their harm to health and society as a whole."
Nutt had criticised politicians for "distorting" and "devaluing" the research evidence in the debate over illicit drugs.
Nutt incurred the wrath of the government when he claimed in a paper that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than many illegal drugs, including LSD, ecstasy and cannabis.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The home secretary has asked Professor Nutt to resign as chair of the ACMD [Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs].
"In a letter he [Alan Johnson] expressed surprise and disappointment over Professor Nutt's comments which damage efforts to give the public clear messages about the dangers of drugs.
"We remain determined to crack down on all illegal substances and minimise their harm to health and society as a whole."
Nutt had criticised politicians for "distorting" and "devaluing" the research evidence in the debate over illicit drugs.
Government drug adviser David Nutt sacked
Professor David Nutt was asked to resign after his claims ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol
www.theguardian.com
Last edited: