'Absurd' drug laws 'hinder research' - Prof David Nutt

'Absurd' laws dealing with magic mushrooms, ecstasy and cannabis are hindering medical research, according to a former government drugs adviser.

Prof David Nutt says he has funding to research the use of the chemical psilocybin - found in fungi known as "magic mushrooms" to treat depression.

But he says "insane" regulations mean he cannot get hold of the drug.

The Home Office said there was "no evidence" that regulations were a barrier to research.

It is not the first time Prof Nutt has been at odds with government policy.

He was sacked as an adviser over views that ecstasy and LSD were less harmful than alcohol.

Psilocybin is illegal in the UK and is a Class A drug.

Earlier research at Imperial College London showed that injections of psilocybin could calm a region of the brain which is overactive in depression.

The group is now trying to conduct a clinical trial to test psilocybin as a treatment.