Ecstasy, The Project and Law Reform.

On Tuesday the 4th of December 2012, I went on Channel 10’s The Project to talk about drug law reform.  Specifically, the focus was on MDMA (Ecstasy).  The show pursued this story this evening, as there has been a recent spate of news stories in Australia regarding MDMA for treatment of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and more talk of its status as one of the less risky substances, including being far less risky than the legal and widely available drug alcohol.
http://theprojecttv.com.au/video.htm?movideo_p=39696&movideo_m=251803

The Age – Dancing With Molly
“There is overwhelming evidence ecstasy is significantly less dangerous than alcohol for the user and society generally. And the word from users is when it is available, they choose it over drinking.”
Herald Sun – Ecstasy used to treat war veterans in new research
“It’s extremely promising,” he said. “It’s more effective than any treatment.”

I also recently spoke with a journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald, who published this relatively non-promising, mostly rhetorical article on LSD:
Sydney Morning Herald – A New Generation Takes The Acid Test
“He (Dr. Gordian Fulde) attributes the growing popularity of hallucinogens to experimentation and fashion. ‘It’s why jeans go out of fashion. People want to do something different, something new … And everything old is new again.'”

There has been a lot going on for the arguably failed ‘War on Drugs’ policy world wide, and there is mounting pressure on governments across the global to look at different options.  Scientists who have spoken out against the irrationality of the policies have been sacked and research funding for medical benefits of many illicit substances is still incredibly hard to obtain, though many substances seem to hold huge potential uses.
I decided, after getting home from The Project, to write to a few politicians, including my local MP, the Victorian Premier, both the Victorian and federal health ministers and a few other select MPs and Senators that I have spoken to before about this issue.

If you believe that the War on Drugs is failed policy, and new options need to be looked at, then consider writing to your local MPs too, and writing to the health minister(s) and speaking to local media.  Don’t be shy about telling the truth.  The truth is the thing which has been most quashed by the War on Drugs, in an attempt to demonise every person that uses an illicit substance, and silence their positive comments.  Feel free to use any part of my letter in your own:

Hello,

I am writing to you all on the issue of the War on Drugs.
Tonight, I was on Channel 10’s The Project, where I spoke about using the drug ecstasy (MDMA). I spoke candidly to this television show and gave my full name which was read on air.
The reason why I did this, and will continue to do this about my use of not only MDMA but also other, similarly safe compounds such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT, mescaline and marijuana, is that I and an ever-growing number of Australians and global citizens are tired of the expensive, detrimental and failed policy of a War on Drugs.

You have seen two U.S. states legalise marijuana. You have seen a growing number of South American states seeking new drugs policy, as they have seen the huge problems caused by prohibitive policy. Not to mention Portugal and the Netherlands, who have both looked at and pursued alternative drug policies.

There are a number of issues that need to be discussed surrounding drug policy and what would be appropriate policy for the wide and varying scheduled substances. Old drug war rhetoric doesn’t help anyone and it is winning fewer and fewer votes from people who have been lied to for decades about the risks involved with many of these substances.

It is time to have a sensible discussion about what next, because what we have now is only causing harm and wasting money.

You may have heard of Greg Kasarik’s hunger strike. He has lost 10kgs so far and is currently at day 21 of his hunger strike. He is seeking to have a reasoned discussion about what he calls ‘Transcendent Compounds’, which are many of the same things I have mentioned earlier. I know many, many people that regularly take a myriad of substances without harm, who live perfectly normal, productive lives and would love to be able to access these things without going through a black market, and without the risk of adulterated product.

I would love to chat to you personally about this issue and I’d especially like to interview you for a podcast I produce on this topic – http://www.enpsychedelia.org if you have Skype and would like to chat to me.

Thank you for your time and have a good week

I have been saying for a little bit now that the tides are shifting.  The War on Drugs is lost.  It was lost before it began, as prohibitionary policy never works.  Even when a government uses its utmost executive power to try and control the people, if the people want something, they will still go and do it, and if they believe in it firmly enough, they will fight the government.

This policy will change.