UK: Former Justice Minister’s drug policy unit loses £495,522 in taxpayer money

Before we start here’s that story about the allegations that the Independent refer to in their story below.

Tory MP Crispin Blunt arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of drugs

To read more background on Blunt please see his wikipedia page

This is what the Independent and other outlets are reporting.

The CDPRG aimed to allow access to cannabis-based medical products and reform wider drug policy following the “current failure of prohibition”.

Crispin Blunt’s drug policy group that sought to reclassify magic mushrooms and cannabis owes thousands of pounds to the taxpayer after closing down.

The former justice minister, who lost the Conservative whip on his arrest for suspected rape last year, launched the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG).

But it now owes £467,165 to the Future Fund, which was set up by Rishi Sunak during lockdown to offer grants to startup firms.

The CDPRG aimed to allow access to cannabis-based medical products and reform wider drug policy following the “current failure of prohibition”.

It also advocated for reclassifying psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to allow them to be prescribed by doctors.

../..  The CDPRG’s liquidation documents, signed off by Mr Blunt, showed that the Future Fund accounted for the majority of the £495,522 it owed when it ran out of cash.

 

Facebook page last updated October 2022

 

The website has been taken down

 

A spokesman for the British Business Bank, which administers the fund, told The Telegraph: “The Future Fund was created at the height of the pandemic to ensure a flow of capital to companies that would otherwise have been unable to access government support schemes, while ensuring long-term value for the UK taxpayer.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/crispin-blunt-drug-mushrooms-rape-arrest-b2605362.html

Also

The media reports concentrate on Blunt alone, but documents  also highlight one other officer.

Mr David Colin Bruce King
Director • British • Lives in United States • Born in Aug 1989

I can find virtually no trace of this individual online except for a reference in this document saying

David King is Director of Research at the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG) and a final year graduate medical student at King’s College London.

Medicinal_use_psilocybin

 

The PSC of the company were Canadians  Zenabis Investments Ltd.

A familiar name in cannabis if you’ve been around for a while.

They were bought out by Hexo Corp in 2021 who were subsequently bought by Tilray June 22 2023

Who knows what Tilray’s liabilities are? 

Although I doubt their board wants to be involved in a UK political scandal!

Irwin D. Simon Chairman

Rest of the the management team https://www.tilray.com/management-team/

Here’s the most recent activity at Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG).

Ricky Brar
CEO & CHAIRPERSON, BRAINS BIOCEUTICAL CORP.

https://cannabis-europa.com/speakers/rick-brar/

 

Tarsilo Onuluk 

 

Also See

pdf

 

FOI Request – Have Scottish Government ministers had any correspondence with members of the CDPRG (Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group) or any other pro cannabis campaign or lobby group? 

Correspondence+between+Ministers+and+CDPRG+-+202300338295

 

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