2016: The year in drugs
A timeline of the biggest drug stories this year
February 3: Ketamine touted as a cure for severe depression
According to medical experts, ketamine could be the most effective cure for severe depression. Called the "next big thing in psychiatry" by San Francisco psychiatrist L. Alison McInnes, the drug is still in the works, but getting closer, to being used officially for treatment.
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February 11: Report says drugs bought online tend to be high in purity
The rise in drugs purchased on the deep web proved one of 2016’s fastest growing trends. Found beyond the reach of standard search engines, sites like Silk Road have thrived. A report into online markets said drugs were higher purity than those bought off the street and with a feedback service just as respected as eBay’s, users had a better understanding of what they were purchasing.
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February 29: Drug experts to trial pill testing in Australia
Two weeks after one of Australia’s most respected current affairs shows aired a special on drug use at festivals, leading Australia drug experts vowed to begin pill testing at music festivals. Dr Alex Wodak of the drug law reform foundation said he would “break the law to save young people’s lives.” Unfortunately, the NSW government still doesn’t see it that way and have threatened to prosecute anyone associated with a pill-testing trial.
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May 26: UK legal high ban comes into play
Originally meant to come into effect in April, the UK legal high ban was passed on May 26. The law banned the trade of legal highs like synthetic cannabis and laughing gas in the United Kingdom. It originally included poppers before they were ruled not psychoactive following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
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May 10: Newcastle University offer students drug testing kits
The ‘Test Your Drugs, Not Yourself’ initiative made Newcastle the first university to offer students the chance to test their drugs. At only £3 a pop, the test uses a chemical reaction to determine what’s in the drugs.
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August 11: fabric closes temporarily
Following the drug-related deaths of two teenagers over the summer months, fabric was forced to close. At the time it wasn’t thought the club could close forever, but that would all change after Operation Lenor had concluded.
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September 7: fabric closes indefinitely after license is revoked
“Closing fabric is not the answer to drug-related problems,” a statement from the club read after their license was revoked following a six-hour review. To say the decision caused uproar would be an understatement. Prominent DJs were quick to show their disapproval and urge new mayor Sadiq Khan to save the club. What ensued was a global display of support that included £300,000 raised, a man dancing outside fabric for 24 hours and a host of #saveourculture parties.
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October 13: Irvine Welsh comes out swinging in support of fabric
The author of one of the most important pieces of literature about drugs wasn’t shy when it came to speaking about the plight of fabric. Irvine Welsh said the closure of the club hit him hard, describing it as a “not a war on drugs. It’s a war on people.”
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November 16: Berlin announces plans to launch legal cannabis distribution scheme
Having already ruled Berghain as high culture, Berlin continued a progressive 2016, announcing their plans to roll out a trial of legal marijuana distribution.
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November 17: The British Medical Journal says the war on drugs has failed
Following a report by a medical journal earlier in the year, the British Medical Journal doubled down saying the war on drugs has failed and doctors, not police, should be at the centre of reform. “Change is coming, and doctors should use their authority to lead calls for pragmatic reform informed by science and ethics."
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November 21: fabric given go ahead to re-open
The light at the end of a dark tunnel, fabric was finally given the go-ahead to re-open. While it comes with a number of borderline draconian measures in regards to drug use, those concerns were overshadowed by the fact the legendary Farringdon spot would soon be back in action.
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November 21: MPs back report calling for decriminalisation of marijuana
Calls for cannabis to be decriminalised in the UK grew much louder in 2016 with MPs backing a report that said the government’s attempts to control cannabis use was “embarrassing”. Following the presidential elections, nine states made it legal to smoke weed recreationally. In Berlin, they’re looking to roll out a trial of legal distribution of the drug. Could the UK be next?
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November 30: MDMA inches closer to prescription status
It’s not all just about gurning, you know. With the FDA seemingly onboard, the medical use of MDMA for people with PTSD took a huge step forward. With the third phase of trialling on the way, it’s even thought the drug could be on the market with therapy status as soon as 2021.
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