Sunday, June 5, 2011 -

    John Rentoul Prefers The Drugs Trade To Remain With Organised Crime

    John Rentoul

    In an extraordinary and confused reaction to comments on his article “The truth about the lies about drugs”, John Rentoul, chief political commentator for The Independent on Sunday (IOS), said:

    “It is a bad thing that the drugs business is in the hands of criminals. My view is that it would be a worse thing if it were legalised, and regulated or administered by the government.”

    Rentoul was reacting to a stream of criticism about his article in which he confessed that he was responsible for the IOS retracting its support for the decriminalisation of cannabis in March 2007.  Now, with the Global Commission on Drugs Policy calling for the legalisation of cannabis, 70% of Britons approving the idea of legal regulation and public opinion clearly in favour of reform, Rentoul looks more than a little out of touch.  Politicians seem to have completely misjudged the public mood and the constant denial of scientific evidence of the relative harmlessness of cannabis  is making them look more than a little stupid.  See David Cameron’s untruths spoken on YouTube earlier in the year and Nadine Dorries’ quite ridiculous statements on Any Questions just last week.

    Unfortunately, in his blog post this evening, John Rentoul just dug himself even deeper into the mire.  What responsible, intelligent journalist can possibly call for criminals to remain in control of the drugs trade?  See his “I admit I was wrong” article and ask yourself, should this man enjoy the privilege of expressing his views in a national newspaper?


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    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=547137030 Barista Maestro

      Lol. I believe those who don’t want it decriminalised and regularised are either involved in drug trafficking or involved in big pharma lobbies or just pure ignorants and stubborn, if i had a time machine i would send them back to the stone age and let them be with dinosaurs.

    • Mark

      I can’t believe how much of an idiot he is. How can anyone be that stupid.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Hand/100000153207342 David Hand

      His photo reminds me of Bowie. Does he have any drug-use issues himself perhaps? 

    • TD

      I literally don’t understand what statement he is making. Is he saying the government are worse than criminals?

    • Finch01

      people that say that, have got something to gain from the drugs being illegal, I wonder what? 

    • Anonymous

      More needs to be made of the speeches both Cameron and Clegg made in the house a few years back, they said the war on drugs has failed. The stance they now have is hypocritical and completely opposite to the one they had before they got into power.

      Inconsistent? Or in with the criminal element? Or some other vested interest? All fair questions that could be put to them in the public domain.

    • http://twitter.com/dragon83uk Daniel

      Can we please just start calling this guy Mr Rent-a-Tool now?

    • Anonymous

      Who cares what he thinks or writes . Anyone who belives what they read in the papers needs their head looked at . There is more than enough proof online about drugs to prove that guy is a knob and anyone else who thinks drugs should remain illegal . 

    • stickybud

      I always have done.

    • Anonymous

      What do you expect from somebody who describes himself as a ‘blairite’? The word I would use is ‘arsehole’.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Badbluffer-Jones/100002358136758 Badbluffer Jones

      Why? Why would it be bad to allow people to use medicine without fear of persecution?Why would it be bad to wean people off the gateway drug of alcohol and onto something safer? Why would it be bad to increase the income of the country? Why would it be bad to stop the NHS spending money on Sativex which is cannabis pure and simple? Why would it be bad to get people out of prison who’s only crime is that they grew a plant?  Why Mr Rentoul why… justify yourself.