CB
03-01-2008, 07:16 AM
In the clearest indication yet that the UK government's war on drugs is actually a war being waged against working class drug users, the Home Office has said it will withold benefits from drug addicts who do not seek help with their addiction, meaning thousands of UK citizens could be left penniless, and homeless.
Whilst cocaine has always been seen as the drug of choice for the affluent middle classes, down at the breadline, on British council estates, the popular drugs of choice are alcohol, cannabis and heroin.
A recent case in which an old aged pensioner, who grew cannabis to relieve a painful Rheumatoid Arthiritis condition, illustrates governments intentions after the OAP was fined £70 or two thirds of his weekly income for growing 6 cannabis plants at his home in South London, with no suggestion of supply. Image
Laws such as this pave the way for the prescription drug epidemic to get a grip on society.
This equates to a fine of £70,000 for the top earners in society - a figure which would never be allowed under any circumstances for such a small amount of marijuana.
According to the Home Secretary, "We do not think it is right for the taxpayer to help sustain drug habits when individuals could be getting treatment to overcome barriers to employment."
But the truth is an income of between £50-£100 per week doesn't leave much for drugs, which add's to the fact 90% of all crime recorded in the UK is drug related, so removing social benefits is only going to add oil to this particular fire.
Latest figures show illegal use of class A drugs alone costs taxpayers more than 15 billion pounds annually. So for the Home Office to pledge another billion is simply a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and the Conservative party were quick to make a political point without actually adding anything to the debate, with Shadow Home Secretary David Davis saying, "Labour's failure to tackle drugs has led to an increase in drug crime by 43 percent... and left us with the worst problem of drug use in Europe."
Other proposals include;
* New laws to allow seizure of drug dealers' assets on arrest rather than conviction, (so much for innocent until proven guilty).
* Encouraging grandparents to help care for children of drug-addicted parents.
* More and better drug education for primary students.
* A crackdown on international drug trafficking and money laundering.
None of which have any bearing on how a drug addict who is not in control of his or her faculties, will survive a chaotic, drug addicted lifestyle with absolutely no income.
Another Home Office blunder.
Whilst cocaine has always been seen as the drug of choice for the affluent middle classes, down at the breadline, on British council estates, the popular drugs of choice are alcohol, cannabis and heroin.
A recent case in which an old aged pensioner, who grew cannabis to relieve a painful Rheumatoid Arthiritis condition, illustrates governments intentions after the OAP was fined £70 or two thirds of his weekly income for growing 6 cannabis plants at his home in South London, with no suggestion of supply. Image
Laws such as this pave the way for the prescription drug epidemic to get a grip on society.
This equates to a fine of £70,000 for the top earners in society - a figure which would never be allowed under any circumstances for such a small amount of marijuana.
According to the Home Secretary, "We do not think it is right for the taxpayer to help sustain drug habits when individuals could be getting treatment to overcome barriers to employment."
But the truth is an income of between £50-£100 per week doesn't leave much for drugs, which add's to the fact 90% of all crime recorded in the UK is drug related, so removing social benefits is only going to add oil to this particular fire.
Latest figures show illegal use of class A drugs alone costs taxpayers more than 15 billion pounds annually. So for the Home Office to pledge another billion is simply a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and the Conservative party were quick to make a political point without actually adding anything to the debate, with Shadow Home Secretary David Davis saying, "Labour's failure to tackle drugs has led to an increase in drug crime by 43 percent... and left us with the worst problem of drug use in Europe."
Other proposals include;
* New laws to allow seizure of drug dealers' assets on arrest rather than conviction, (so much for innocent until proven guilty).
* Encouraging grandparents to help care for children of drug-addicted parents.
* More and better drug education for primary students.
* A crackdown on international drug trafficking and money laundering.
None of which have any bearing on how a drug addict who is not in control of his or her faculties, will survive a chaotic, drug addicted lifestyle with absolutely no income.
Another Home Office blunder.