Did you see the debate? A debate with a host of celebrities: Russell Brand, Sir Richard Branson; world leaders, and eminent opinion formers. Oh, and Peter Hitchens was in attendance. A debate of such magnitude would surely not creep under the radar? Especially given the gravitas of the contested subject?
Under the heading of 'The War on Drugs Has Failed' - and hosted by Intelligence Squared, the debate is a must watch for anyone remotely interested in societal issues. Luckily, the full video will be available to view soon. The drugs debate has never been given such a platform, and it just goes to show how ripe the discussion now is.
A poll dovetailed the whole event, and the end results: 95% of the web vote, and 64.5% of the auditorium were in favour of reform. But there was some interesting subtext to the debate.
The panel were divided into for and against reform, and yet there was a large amount of common ground between the two sides. For example, it was almost unilaterally agreed upon that incarceration for drug users was no longer just. This in itself is a heartening step forward. Seemingly, there was also a popular consensus - from both sides - that cannabis really has no place in the 'war on drugs'. The debate as a whole was centred around hard drugs.
There was also some comedic value to the evening with Peter Hitchens' presence evoking strained reaction from all sides of the panel and auditorium. Russell Brand and Hitchens tussled over hats of all things, with Brand devaluing the Mail on Sunday and alluding to its irrelevance. Wikileaks' Julian Assange then took umbrage at Hitchens being given the final say to the evening; Assange groaned, "I can't believe you were going to give that tw*t the last word".
Leading the charge on the opposition to reform, former governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, gave an impressive performance and hounded Senior Policy Analyst, Steve Rolles, from Transform Drug Policy Foundation. In A Few Good Men type scenario, Rolles was berated into a corner by Spitzer, and although Rolles didn't shout "you can't handle the truth", he firmly kept his cool and managed to hold his own against the Spitzer's probing; Steve Rolles even managed to replace the onus whilst dispelling ad hominems and reform myths. However, there is belief that Eliot Spitzer was playing devil's advocate owing to the not so subtle fact that he has publicly supported marijuana reforms. On HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" - Spitzer said:
Spitzer's colleague in the maintenance of the 'war on drugs' was former US Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey. Following the theme, McCaffrey is also on public record as saying, "Knock yourself out" to marijuana growers - and that with regards to cannabis, he "really doesn't care". It's fair to see that even the most staunches of positions can no longer argue a case for the prohibition of cannabis and the punitive measures for possession.
Other speakers in favour of reform included:
Former Mexican President, Vicente Fox, author of McMafia, Misha Glenny; Columbian President, Juan Manuel Santos, journalist, Johann Hari, and leading human rights lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson QC.
Those who support punitive policies were:
Professor Neil McKeganey, Lord Ian Blair; author, Theodore Dalrymple, and Antonio Maria Costa who was Director General of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Unification of opinion was rife over the premise of punishing drug users. The panel mostly advocated health based approaches and help for those with addiction over punitive. Incarcerating users was not considered humane or cost effective. Russell Brand also made the pertinent case for a distinction between problem drug use and casual use; he also said that criminalising any behaviour simply ostracises the vulnerable.
Whatever your stance on the drugs debate, it can be agreed that it's now time we had one. The UK and US governments are embarrassingly behind in the dialogue, and successive policy makers refuse to even engage with the issue; they are increasingly out of touch. It's easy to see that drug policy reform is now mainstream.
The full video of the debate will be available soon.
Follow Jason Reed on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jasontron
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I found Spitzer to be completely unbearable. Whatever side he was on he would have turned me against him. I think the abuse directed at Peter Hitchens both during and after is counterproductive. He represents a point of view with which we need to engage, not abuse and ridicule.
For those reasons Jason, I disagree that this debate took the issue mainstream. I think we are on the cusp of it becoming mainstream but I think we probably need to stick to the Question Time format for that to happen.
I've always found Russell Brand a despicable character and I haven't really changed that view but I completely changed my opinion of his intellect which is obviously considerable. All he needs to do now is learn some manners and he might become of some use.
As for Branson, what's that expression about a spare something at a wedding? All I could think about was turning down the brightness or contrast and does he use Sunsilk or Timotei?
If you support prohibition then you support bank-rolling criminals and terrorists. There's simply no other logical way of looking at it.
Everybody who supports prohibition needs to understand that there is a human cost associated with this dangerous and failed policy. - Every time they assert their support for it they are condemning thousands more to death.
Every-time the ghastly violence of prohibition is falsely blamed on the users, it diminishes the culpability of those who are truly responsible for maintaining the status quo. Prohibition is an absolute scourge -the end! The use of drugs is NOT the real problem, the system that grants exclusive distribution rights to violent cartels and terrorists IS.
I watched the whole discussion and have to say found the format totally frustrating. Too many voices trying to get their half truths and half lies across, and too little time to discuss and refute them properly. Quality (of arguments and exposition) is what matters, not quantity.
It seems to me that the fact that 15% of the audience (the "don't know" section) made their minds up in favour of continuing with Prohibition and the War on Drugs is a clear indication that those in the Drug Reform Movement need to think harder on how to debate the issue and how to win the hearts and minds of those who "don't know" what to think about Prohibition and the so-called War on Drugs. Preaching to the converted is not good enough!
Gart Valenc
Twitter: @gartvalenc
And yes, the swing of 15% was telling and I didn't omit this to make any point I assure. I just wanted to keep it to a conversational summary. I really would like all to watch the debate and make their own minds up.
Full applause on the 'preaching to the converted' too. Yes, yes, and yes.
We are constantly lectured on the need for responsibility in capitalism and our duties to others, but will the people who lecture us constantly on these matters agree to forgo their dope out of a consideration for other people? Will they hell.
I do respect Peter Hitchens, and think fondly of him. I hardly ever agree with him, but he knows he has my respect (but almost certainly doesn't want or need it). We've shared correspondence on a few occasions. But, on this night, I do feel he let himself down by his own high standards as a debater. The whole panel and auditorium felt his comments and conduct were out of place.
And in reply to your last comment: We can talk ourselves around in circles about who should give up what for whatever reason, it's fairly pointless. Many in reform are there, not because they promote or want to use drugs, but they are there owing to the wider issues and problems that prohibitive policies cause -- especially to other countries.
Its a great way to spend 2 hours. Just close your office door, you know you want to.