Metropolitan Police Commissioner wants everyone tested for drugs: what’s he on?
IDIOT of the day is Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the The Metropolitan Police Commissioner. He’s talking about drugs:
“It seems to me we have got to plant in people’s minds something to affect the demand as well as supply. You can think of many occupations where if you were working with a colleague you would want to be sure in fact that they were drug free.”
He says that any worker found to have drugs in their system should suffer “consequences, which would probably be about their employment”.
Sure. What drugs, then? What drugs would you be unhappy that your lawyer, accountant, journalist, copper, nurse, doctor, train driver, teacher, politician or dentist took? Does taking drugs mean these peoples’ autonomy and judgement is so bad they must lose their jobs? Why should the State know best? Why should your job control you outside of work hours?
The Mail says:
In America, however, random drug testing is already prevalent – and widely accepted – in workplaces, with staff tested in the retail, financial, manufacturing, education and health sectors. Companies say that the tests are not just carried out for safety reasons, but also to identify theft risk, employee reliability and improve productivity
In Colorado it’s legal to smoke marijuana. You can smoke marijuana just as you can take sleeping pills, anti-depressants, alcohol, steroids and all manner of other drugs that are given to aide health and recovery from illness.
The Mail adds:
Campaigner Mary Brett, of charity Cannabis Skunk Sense, said: “It is refreshing to hear a senior police officer who is deeply aware of the dangers of today’s cannabis. It is also reassuring to hear one who is unafraid of enforcing the law and taking on drug dealers.”
So. Would you be happier being treated by a doctor who takes a sleeping pill to unwind at lunchtime between shifts or one who smoked a spliff the night before? Do either drugs encourage meaningful thought and action?
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe wants to clamp down on drugs and their taking, but fails to recognise that some drugs can help…
Posted: 30th, January 2013 | In: Reviews Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
