Thursday 4th March 2021 | PALATINATE
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Politics
Reconstructing the “420 unfriendly” narrative Delia He Peici When asked about easing the UK’s cannabis policy, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was not hesitant to reveal that he opposed the liberalisation of drug laws. He stated: “When I was director of public prosecutions, I prosecuted many, many cases involving drugs and drug gangs and the criminality that sits behind. And it causes huge issues to vulnerable people across the country.” When asked about the possibility of decriminalision, he says: “I’ve never gone down that route…I have supported schemes where you’re not arrested for [cannabis possession], you’re not prosecuted for it. And I believe in that.” His comments indicate a drastic shift away from the previously expressed sentiments of the Labour leadership. In a 2020 report published by the Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform (LCDPR), the group called for a “progressive approach to drugs”. It further recommends a regulation of the cannabis market with appropriate controls on access, safety and potency. Currently, cannabis is designated as a Class B drug in
the strategy toward controlling supply. Decriminalisation, therefore, should prioritise harm reduction. Drug-checking directly reduces drug-related harm by offering transparent information of chemical components in the drugs, which can be strictly regulated by medical experts. A comprehensive support infrastructure can also be implemented for drug users seeking treatment without fearing stigmatisation or criminal charges.
If the conversation is spotlighted on protecting the community, then all evidence points toward decriminalisation. Organised criminal groups are gaining increasing control of the drug market in the UK, occupying a large percentage of the annual £9 billion profit. Meanwhile, the cost of policing drugs remains upwards of £100 million annually, in addition to the 1.5 million hours spent by the police working on cannabisrelated cases. Surely, it is fair to say that the ‘war on drugs’ has an emerging victor. Focusing on a cost-benefit
analysis of the drug trade, however, seems to be adopting an extremely narrow perspective. Saying of the war on drugs that ‘the benefits far outweigh the costs!’ insinuates a highly desensitised view to the lives lost in the process. Drug-related deaths are at a high in the UK, with 5,546 fatalities in 2018 observing an overall increase of 52% in the past decade, notwithstanding the exploitation of some 4,000 children in London alone as drug mules. Organised crime networks involved in the drugs trade profit off the addiction and exploitation of communities throughout the country, with low-income persons and ethnic minorities disproportionately affected. It remains that they should be duly punished by the justice system. It must be emphasised that judicial legitimacy will in no way be undermined by decriminalisation policies. Rather, cannabis legislation should aim to transfer control away from unethical and unregulated criminal organisations into that of the government. The truth is that drugs will always be in demand. If policies to curb drug-usage have proven to be of diminishing efficiency, perhaps it is time to consider shifting
in over a decade, with mass power outages and temperatures of -18°C (-0.4°F), the Texan Senator decided to book a lastminute trip with his wife and two children to Cancun, Mexico. Cancun is a popular destination for many American spring breakers, with temperatures as high as 29°C at
this time of year. The move had created an uproar amongst many politicians and Texans alike, with the name ‘flying Ted’ dubbed on many news outlets, a name that was even trending on Twitter. After the initial news reports, the Republican senator returned just ten hours after landing in Mexico, stating that in hindsight
he “wouldn’t have done it”. Cruz also justified the trip, saying that his daughters had persuaded him to go and that he was “trying to be a dad.” The defence was criticised by many, with the Texas Democratic Party calling on Cruz’s resignation.
the UK, and possession of the drug can be punished by up to five years in prison. Medical cannabis can be legally prescribed to some patients. Starmer’s views regarding the decriminalisation of cannabis primarily concern criminal activities and violence implicating vulnerable persons. While coming from a place of good intentions, this view is one that, I believe, fails to distinguish between the nuances of the drug trade and drug use.
The truth is that drugs will always be in demand
The fundamental tenet of decriminalisation is to humanise drug users
The fundamental tenet of decriminalisation is to humanise drug users. It is a grave mistake to associate crime with drug use. A call to decriminalise cannabis is not one that pardons drug dealers and manufacturers who consciously choose to harm the community at large, but rather, a policy that extends fairness and compassion to drug users. Decriminalisation would not downplay the drug’s negative effects, but much rather
the contrary: it emphasises the proven medical conditions that either cause or are caused by cannabis-usage and can offer a targeted treatment plan, if necessary. Studies have revealed that circumstances of trauma, socio-economic status, mental health and even genetics result in heightened susceptibility to drug addiction. In viewing drug use as a chronic illness, addicts can be offered rehabilitative harm-reduction programmes, a much more humane and efficient alternative, compared to the prosecution of over 15,000 people annually for cannabis possession. (dannybirchall, Creative Commons)
‘Flyin’ Ted’ and the Texan weather crisis Richard Herbert Since the 6th January uprising at the Capitol, Ted Cruz has been making a new name for himself with another spell of “incompetence”, according to a former aide. As Texas was facing one of the worst snow blizzards
(Gage Skidmore,Creative Commons)
Texaswasfacingmasspower outages and temperatures of -18°C
The backlash did not stop there, as protesters gathered outside the senator’s $2 million home demanding that “Cancun Cruz must resign”. Despite heavy criticism from both sides of the political spectrum the senator showed no intent on resigning. Many analysts believe the repercussions are unlikely to be felt for a long time, if at all, given that the Republican would not be up for re-election until 2024. Millions of Texans have been without any safe water and around 28,000 have no electricity. To make things worse, Texas’s governor, Greg Abbott, decided to make the crisis a political issue, claiming that this “shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States”.
His comments came after reports that frozen wind turbines had contributed to grid power loss despite wind shutdowns had only accounted for 13% of the outages and the loss of power from frozen coal-fired and natural gas plants was six times larger. President Biden declared Texas a major disaster, potentially unlocking aid to tackle the problem of 78,000 homes still without power. The declaration has so far been a start for the lone star state, granting temporary housing, home repairs and lowcost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
Cruz also justified the trip, saying that his daughters had persuaded him to go
However, the provisions have only been made available to individuals in 77 of the 254 counties. Many politicians have called on all counties to be provided with funds during this dark time. It seems that in order to prevent more deaths and the crisis worsening, funding from the Federal Government would be paramount.
