December 15, 2009

David Nutt comments on ‘Principles on scientific advice to Government’

Following the furore over his sacking from the government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), Prof David Nutt offers his thoughts on the government’s ‘Principles of scientific advice to Government’, which sets out revised principles on the provision of independent scientific advice to government.

Prof David Nutt, Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, said:

“There are 2 points I would like to make:

1. Trust is a two way process, not something that can be imposed by ministerial decree. I hope the government understand this. If they do then they should acknowledge the fact that the statements made regarding cannabis and MDMA in the past two years were in breach of this principle.

2. If my interpretation of these principles is correct then the public comments that the home secretary sacked me for would now be acceptable and allowed. I would like government to confirm this also.”