And a former minister of state breaks ranks...

[johnny9fingers]

The problem with reacting to current events is that they rarely fall into the ambit of TP's set topic for the fortnight/month.

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/16/legalise-drugs-former-defence-minister

Poor Bob Ainsworth has broken ranks on the drug question and called for a proper, far-reaching "grown-up" debate on the current illegality of

Comments

[anfalicious]

If Rupert wanted it, it would be done within an election cycle. Here, there and the US.

[peamasii]

Cannabis is still illegal in the UK after having been decriminalized in Western European countries for over a decade now! Wow...

[johnny9fingers]

Yep, we're one of the 'backward' nations.

[johnny9fingers]

That would require leaving themselves open to criticism from their enemies, who would no doubt make capital thereupon...."Oh noes, look at what the ebil minister is doing about drugs."

Rupert's minions would have a field day.

[luvdovz]

Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I could gather, the weekly/monthly topic is supposed to offer a more abstract subject to occasionally focus on, aside from the current issues of the day that gets discussed most of the time anyway. Did I get this right?

[johnny9fingers]

I'm sure you're right. Call it 'apology giving emphasis'. I'm sure the Greeks had a word for that.

[meus_ovatio]

We will call this word "apologensis".

[fizzyland]

Public opinion matters not to this crowd - support for decriminalization remains high and government officials never support their own studies in favor of it - until they're out of office and can't do anything about the situation.