Author did not declare lobby links
THE author of today’s report into cannabis is linked to a group which wants to see the drug legalised for recreational use.
Neurologist Professor Mike Barnes, clinical director at a chain of private clinics called the Christchurch Group, was paid by the AllParty Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform to write a 169-page review of evidence into the drug.
The report, which was co-written by his daughter Dr Jennifer Barnes, a clinical psychologist in Newcastle, is billed as ‘the most extensive review of evidence in the literature in modern times’.
Yet nowhere in the review does Professor Barnes declare his links to CLEAR, a campaign group seeking to end ‘the prohibition of cannabis’ for all users, both recreational and medical.
Professor Barnes is described on the group’s website as a member of the CLEAR advisory board. When approached by the Mail, Professor Barnes insisted he does not support general legalisation and said he would resign from the organisation.
He said he was asked six weeks ago to ‘advise CLEAR on their campaign to legalise cannabis for medical purposes’.
He added: ‘I was happy to do so. I was not asked to support their broader campaign on general recreational usage and I do not support general legalisation.’