DrugScope has described home secretary Alan Johnson's decision to
force the resignation of the government's chief adviser on drugs
misuse as "an extremely serious and concerning
development".
However, the drugs information charity declined to comment on
whether its chief executive, Martin Barnes, would be considering
his position on the
Advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs, following the departure of
Professor David Nutt.
Johnson's decision to force Nutt's resignation as council chair
led two other members of the advisory body to step down in protest:
Dr Les King, a former head of drug intelligence at the Forensic
Science Service, and Marion Walker, director of the substance
misuse service at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.
'Raises serious questions'
DrugScope director of communications Harry Shapiro said: "The
home secretary's decision to force the resignation of the chair of
an independent advisory body is an extremely serious and concerning
development and raises serious questions about the means by which
drug policy is informed and kept under review."
Turning Point, whose chief executive Victor Adebowale also
serves on the council, declined to comment on the resignations.
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust said Walker was serving on
the council in a private capacity and "any views that she holds on
the agency or its work is a completely private matter".