APPENDIX 11
Memorandum from Mary Brett, recently retired
Biology teacher and UK representative on the board of Eurad (Europe
Against Drugs)
In my opinion the Government does usually receive
sound advice from scientists but it is sometimes the composition
of the investigating committee that is at fault. This is certainly
the case with the ACMD. I attach my analysis of this body. The
main points being that not one single expert on cannabis, psychosis
or schizophrenia was a member. Surely they should be the first
people to be recruited when the main concern was about mental
illness. And no single member of an avowed anti-drugs organisation
was present. From my list you will see that there was a preponderance
of representation of the more liberal views. I wrote and sent
a paper to this committee linking cannabis and psychosis/schizophrenia
citing evidence going back to the 70s, I attach it. [Not published]
I also gave oral and written evidence to the
HASC on Cannabis. This time the committee took evidence from very
few scientists or anti-drugs campaigners. The main bulk of evidence
was given by those of a more liberal outlook, eg Drugscope, the
Charity that advises this government. There was even evidence
from a libertarian group with something like 18 members.
February 2006
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