CDPRG in the Media
Current and recent media highlights featuring the research and members of the CDPRG. For more details on our activities, see our press releases.
Drugs: Government adviser to urge more focus on health of users
BBC Politics | 30 June 2021 | Jack Fenwick
Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, who chairs the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group, has welcomed the likely recommendations. He said current policy is "dominated by the Home Office security agenda" and a health-based approach would be "supported by the evidence".
Getty Images | BBC
Overdose prevention centres offer safe equipment to people dependent on drugs. Photograph: Michael Bryant/AP
PHE accused of toning down positive report on drug centres
The Guardian | 05 March 2021 | Mattha Busby
Crispin Blunt, a co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for drug policy reform, said more than a third of all European drug deaths occurred in the UK, and OPCs should be established to reduce record levels of overdose deaths.
Tories ‘toned down’ report backing drug consumption rooms
The Daily Record | 05 March 2021 | Mark McGivern
Tory MP Crispin Blunt, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group for drug policy reform, said: “If the evidence supports the use of drug consumption rooms, which it does, then these should be allowed to go ahead.”
Prolific drug users will no longer face prosecution
The Times | 26 October 2020 | Fiona Hamilton
Researchers at the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group said that one in five police forces was already using, or putting in place, drug diversion programmes to “shift away from punishment in the direction of support and treatment.”
Regular users given a pass as police back heroin treatment centres
The Times | 26 October 2020 | Fiona Hamilton
Amber Moore, senior researcher at the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group, said that HAT was a “well-evidenced treatment programme that works well”. She said it meant that drug addicts did not need to resort to crime for their hit, resulting in a significant impact locally particularly on the incidence of thefts.
Image: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS
Legalise magic mushrooms, says cop boss
The Sunday Mirror | 09 August 2020 | Alan Selby
His call comes as the Adam Smith Institute think-tank and the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group call for a psilocybin rethink.
Police commissioner keen to discover how magic mushrooms can really be…
The Sunday Express | 09 August 2020 | Jaymi Mccann
Research from the Adam Smith Institute and Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group said psilocybin has a “low potential for harm relative to other classes of psychoactive drugs.”
Police commissioner: Magic mushrooms spirit away the blues
The Sunday Times | 09 August 2020
Also in print.
Welsh police boss wants magic mushrooms reclassified and used to treat mental health problems
ITV | 6 August 2020
“This new research from scientists clearly shows psilocybin has been wrongly classified as being harmful when it is in fact a potentially revolutionary medicine.”
‘Magic mushrooms could avert mental health crisis’
Cambrian News | 6 August 2020
Magic mushrooms could avert a looming mental health crisis, North Wales’ police and crime commissioner has said... The commissioner is working with think tank, the Adam Smith Institute, and the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group chaired by former UK Government minister Crispin Blunt MP.
Read the article.
'Magic mushrooms' could avert looming mental health crisis, says North Wales police boss
North Wales Live | 6 August 2020 | Steve Bagnall
The commissioner is making common cause with the libertarian think tank, the Adam Smith Institute, and the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group chaired by former UK Government minister Crispin Blunt MP.
Mushrooms could be a magic cure for depression, if our draconian drug regulations weren’t stuck in the past
CityA.M. | 4 August 2020 | Daniel Pryor
Home Office chiefs urged to relax ban on magic mushrooms to tackle Covid-19 mental health crisis
The Sun | 27 July 2020 | Nick Gutteridge
Ease restrictions on medical psychedelics to aid research, experts say
The Guardian | 27 July 2020 | Ian Sample
Psilocybin may be safe for treating depression but research is stymied by government controls.
Legalise magic mushrooms to treat depression, say leading doctors
The Telegraph | 27 July 2020 | Charles Hymas
The active psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms has been shown in medical trials to benefit people suffering from mental ill health.
Read the article.
Magic mushrooms should be made legal in the same way as cannabis so they can be used to treat depression, leading doctors say
The Daily Mail | 27 July 2020 | Stephen Matthews
Government urged to speed research into psychedelic drug to treat depression
The Independent | 27 July 2020 | Tim Wyatt
Photograph: Alexander_Volkov/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Magic mushrooms could help ex-soldiers to overcome trauma
The Observer | 04 July 2020 | Jamie Doward
“I believe I left my PTSD behind in those sessions. I am no longer destructive or closed off. I have my life back.” As more troops self-medicate with psychedelic drugs to help with PTSD, a group of experts including CDPRG chairman Crispin Blunt, led by Professor David Nutt of Drug Science, lobby for proper clinical trials. Read more on The Guardian.
Medicinal Cannabis: What the Nation Needs?
BCL Solicitors LLP | 30 June 2020 | David Hardstaff, Ami Amin
“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.” Read more on BCL Solicitors LLP.
Annabelle Wombacher, Jared Mar, Sierra Ratcliff and Benjamin Cahoon
Psychedelic Medical Start-Up AWAKN Life Sciences Enters the UK Market with Dr. Ben Sessa
Pharmaceutical Investing News | 18 June 2020 | Ashley Cowell
“AWAKN expects the UK to continue to progress towards medicalising psychedelics, currently undertaking trials for MDMA and psilocybin while political reform is being led by Crispin Blunt MP and the Conservative Drug Reform Group.” Read more on Pharmaceutical Investing News.
COVID-19 and medical cannabis: Could the crisis bring opportunities?
Open Access Government | 11 May 2020 | John Binns
“In addition to the relaxation of import requirements, other positive signs include the Food Standard Agency’s (relatively) sensible approach to, and timetable for, the ‘novel foods’ issue, and a thought-provoking report from the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group.” Read more on Open Access Government.
© Darkop
Enecta - cannabis extracts.
CMC Welcomes Review of Medicinal Cannabis by the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group
Centre for Medical Cannabis | 06 May 2020
Steve Moore, Strategic Counsel, CMC commented, “This report is both a substantial advancement in the analysis of the current state of medicinal cannabis in the UK but also provides compelling insights that will informs its evolution.” Read more at CMC.