““Psilocybin should be rescheduled. At this point it’s unethical to keep it prohibited given its transformative effects on depression and very low risk of harm if used in a therapeutic context with appropriate screening.””

““As an NHS psychiatrist working on the recent Imperial College psilocybin trial, I have witnessed
the enormous promise this treatment has for patients with depression. That psilocybin research continues to be hamstrung by a scheduling that ignores both science and social history is not only an appalling injustice to patients, but, of likely greater interest to government, a potentially catastrophic own-goal, given depression’s enormous impact on the nation’s economic health. The government simply must act on this report’s recommendations.””

““Coronavirus is putting the NHS under considerable strain. Medical cannabis can radically reduce that pressure if regulations and processes are reformed to enable patients with a wide range of conditions to gain access to it. We welcome this timely and thorough CDPRG report highlighting some of the necessary changes to achieve the aspirations behind the rescheduling of cannabis in 2018. Inadequate access to medical cannabis is a nationwide public health issue. We hope the Government will respond positively to this important report.””

“““Part A of the CDPRG report cogently sets out the existing routes to access medical cannabis, and the various shortfalls in the current law. Part B of the report will no doubt provide an equally meticulous evaluation of the anticipated regulatory reform in this area and is keenly awaited by all those affected.” ”

““I agree that the concept of a Royal Commission seems to be eminently sensible. I welcome the formation of the Drug Policy Reform Group and wish it well.””

““Under successive governments it has been assumed that there has been little alternative to trying to win a war on drugs, cannabis included. Medical advice to ministers has always stressed that limited use of soft drugs can lead to harder drugs and addiction.
It’s time to acknowledge facts, and to embrace a decisive change that would be economically and socially beneficial, as well as rather liberating for Conservatives in showing sensible new opinions are welcome.

”Can British Conservatives be as bold as Canadian Liberals? We ought to be. After all, we believe in market forces and the responsible exercise of freedom, regulated as necessary. We should prefer to provide for lawful taxes than preside over increased profits from crime. And we are pragmatists, who change with society and revise our opinions when the facts change. On this issue, the facts have changed very seriously and clearly.””

““I fully support the view that the current prohibitionist policy on drugs is ineffective and counter-productive. I welcome all efforts to promote evidence-based assessment of the merits of prohibition of narcotic drugs: I believe such as assessment would be an important route to reduce the harm to society of the current policy framework. I wish CDPRG well in its efforts to achieve improved public policy towards drugs. The need for fundamental policy reassessment is urgent and I would welcome UK leadership in this reassessment which a Royal Commission could help deliver.””

““On 17 Nov, 2011, I spoke to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform and said: ”Will we acknowledge the truth, that we are unlikely to address the harm that is being caused to the world unless we accept that much (not all) of the vast expenditure on the “War on Drugs” has been fruitless? We need to explore different approaches and look at all the evidence that can help, including that which is politically uncomfortable. We need to collect information on what works, on what harm can be reduced and on what is cost-effective. “

My views have not changed since and I welcome the objective of the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group to work towards evidence based policies.””