[Shasown]

A drugs expert who quit the Government's advisory panel has told Sky News he is worried about the way mephedrone is being criminalised.

Eric Carlin said the decision to make mephedrone a class B drug went ahead before the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) had properly discussed the impact it would have on young people.

He said the way in which the Home Secretary told the media too soon was "entirely wrong" and "morally corrupt".


Read more http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100402/...r-45dbed5.html

Another take on the story

New resignation over mephedrone ruling

Another member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has resigned, adding another chapter to the beleaguered group's problematic relationship with government.

Eric Carlin, former chairman of the English Drug Education Forum, said he was disillusioned with the way the decision to ban mephedrone was taken due to media and political pressure.

In his resignation letter to home secretary Alan Johnson, Mr Carlin wrote: "We had little or no discussion about how our recommendation to classify this drug would be likely to impact on young people's behaviour.

Read More http://uk.news.yahoo.com/14/20100402...i-81c5b50.html

Isnt it great that scientists feel they cant sit on a scientific advisory committee because the current administration cant or wont let them do their jobs properly?