But what’s new apart from the catchy name Miaow Miaow.

Politicians have understandably followed the precautionary principle. Despite everything else, they want to keep their jobs – drugs are a political fight not worth having. Which fails to change the fact that there’s a load of young and (not so young) people happily tucking in to class As and Bs at the weekend. Including a good number of lawyers amongst them.

Which is perhaps why Professor Nutt, or the ‘nutty professor’ as he’s inevitably been dubbed, thinks banning drugs is not the right way to go. He advocates regulating them instead. Making him a hate figure for moral absolutists and a pain in the arse for lawmakers.

So he has been sacked, his scientist friends have resigned in solidarity…and they have all been ignored. Spurring articles like this one from The Times:

The Times: Selling small amounts of drugs in clubs is not shocking. It’s a responsible idea

Last autumn, in the throbbing vaults of a mainstream Manchester nightclub, surrounded by a horde of happy, normal, affluent young people heavily intoxicated by recreational drugs, I saw for myself how pointless the current moral panic over mephedrone is.

…

tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens — are routinely taking cocaine, Ecstasy and amphetamines at weekends before going back to work on Monday morning.

…

This leads one to the inescapable conclusion that drug-induced dancing and socialising is a significant part of modern culture.

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Which makes good copy, will once again rile the anti-drug crowd and fire up drug liberals. Politicians will sensibly ignore that as well. Drug takers will carry on until they get bored, grow up or overdose. New drug takers will replace them. New laws will ban new drugs but won’t stop people getting high at the weekends. The debate will go on. And on. And on.

Plus ca change.

Enjoy your long weekend.