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UK: Anger as Tory party chief backs MPs' bid to legalise hard drugs and to educate users instead Jack Doyle Daily Mail Monday 10 Dec 2012 Michael Fabricant’s intervention came as MPs asked for a royal commission to examine whether possession of drugs – even heroin and crack – should cease to be a criminal offence. The Home Affairs Committee said a ‘fundamental review’ of the law was needed because of the damage the illegal drugs trade did to countries such as Colombia. On Twitter, Mr Fabricant, who is a Tory party vice-chairman, wrote: ‘Have often said: Prohibition in US didn’t work. Created crime & black market. Home Affairs Committee is right to ask if drug prohibition works. ‘If we spent the money on educating people that drugs are dangerous instead of attempting & failing to ban them, I suspect more effective.’ The committee’s conclusions were undermined however by detailed minutes of its meetings that showed three of its five Tory members voted against the recommendation to call for a royal commission. The panel also split evenly on whether cannabis should be given a lower classification. That recommendation was included on the casting vote of the chairman, Labour MP Keith Vaz. The report sparked fury among drugs campaigners – and ministers immediately ruled out major changes to the law. Mary Brett, of the charity Cannabis Skunk Sense, said: ‘A royal commission would cost the earth, and we do not need it to tell us what we already know: legalisation would open the floodgates and drug use would increase. It will also do nothing to help Colombia.’ Marjorie Wallace, of Sane, a mental health charity, said: ‘If the report is to be responsible, it must take account of the specific damage that cannabis can do to the developing brain. ‘Not only because recent studies have shown it inducing irreversible cognitive deterioration but in around 10 per cent of cases triggering severe psychotic illness.’ The MPs took evidence from comedian and former heroin addict Russell Brand, who said drug bans didn’t work, and Sir Richard Branson who said the sale of drugs should be permitted and taxed. They visited Colombia to see the effects of the drugs trade, and met the country’s president. The report said the MPs ‘recognise and sympathise with the immense suffering and slaying of innocent people which tragically has taken place over the years in Colombia and other Latin American countries, as a result of the murderous rivalry between drug gangs.’ The MPs called for cannabis to be reclassified as a Class C drug from Class B. The report also claims the lack of a ban on cigarettes and alcohol can send a ‘confusing message’ to drug users. A Government spokesman said: ‘We have no intention of downgrading or declassifying cannabis. A royal commission on drugs is simply not necessary.’ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2245663/Tory-party-chief-Michael-Fabricant-backs-MPs-bid-legalise-hard-drugs.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
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