South African drug laws lack rational basis

South Africa has three drug regimes. Prohibition, Control and Exemption. Which regime applies to a drug has no rational foundation. All drugs are prohibited, but for tobacco which is controlled and alcohol which gets an exemption. Alcohol is specifically exempted from the definition of "drug" in the National Drug Master Plan of 2006. Placing alcohol under the control of the Department of Trade and Industry to develop the industry without concern for the harm done

Logic dictates that the most dangerous drugs would be prohibited while less dangerous drugs are controlled. The Academy of Medical Science drug policy group in England conducted a survey of the harms of all drugs - licit and illicit. The inconsistency in the law is apparent as alchol appears at number 5 on the list.... far ahead of cannabis! (from the BBC)


David Bayever the deputy head of the Central Drug Authority when asked about cannabis legalisation had this to say: "We have 9.2 percent of our population - twice that in other parts of the world - who use cannabis. It will be a grave mistake to legalise cannabis as elsewhere in the world. We legalised alcohol and never mind the money made from it - alcohol is our biggest problem. The cost to society is horrific. We cannot make the same mistake twice."

What did David Bayever do about his first mistake? NOTHING! What evidence that the cost to society of legalising cannabis Bayever's solution is to lock them all up! 9% of the population? Add to that the cost of his alcohol exemption and the 10% of children being born retarded and dear David belongs in prison. No one else in the country has had the opportunity to deal with the problem.