While there have been many different explanations for his dismissal, the sacking came immediately after Nutt published a paper in which he claimed that cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. In February he published a report that stated that taking ecstasy was no more dangerous than riding a horse.
Personally, I've been interested in the lively debate surrounding these comments as they have a direct relevance to my work with young people and how they perceive drug taking.
When I first heard the news on the radio and they quoted Nutt saying that cannabis was not as harmful as tobacco, my immediate reaction was that it was a stupid thing to say. My main concern was that it made drug use acceptable by dismissing the risks involved.
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