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UK: Legalisation Call: 'War On Drugs Failed'

Sky News

Thursday 02 Jun 2011

A group of high-profile figures have told David Cameron that the "war on drugs has failed" and have called for a review of current laws.

Three former police chiefs, lawyers, academics, politicians and many celebrities have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister.

It was published by campaign group Release and said that drug policy needed to be reviewed.

It said: "It is clear that the present system of applying the criminal law to the personal use and possession of drugs has failed in its aim.

"Conversely, the harms caused by pursuing this approach to drug use have been significant."

The group said that nearly 80,000 people in the UK were convicted or cautioned for possessing an illegal drug in the past year, and most were "young, black or poor".

"It is time for the UK to review its policy and adopt a health-focused, evidence-based approach to drug use," it continued.

A Home Office spokesman said the Government had no intention of liberalising drug laws.

"Drugs are illegal because they are harmful - they destroy lives and cause untold misery to families and communities."

He added: "Those caught in the cycle of dependency must be supported to live drug-free lives, but giving people a green light to possess drugs through decriminalisation is clearly not the answer."

The letter to Mr Cameron was published as a separate group released a report in America which said urgent action was necessary and that drug policies "need to change now".

The Global Commission on Drug Policy includes ex-UN secretary general Kofi Annan and many international statesmen whose countries have major problems with drugs, including former presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

The report urged governments to "experiment" with "models of legal regulation of drugs (especially cannabis) to undermine the power of organised crime".

"Decriminalisation initiatives do not result in significant increases in drug use," the report said - mentioning policies in Australia, Holland and Portugal.

The report will be formally presented in New York later.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Legalisation-Calls-Group-Containing-MPs-And-Ex-Police-Chiefs-Claims-The-War-On-Drugs-Has-Failed/Article/201106116004059?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_16004059_Legalisation_Calls%3A_Group_Containing_MPs_And_Ex-Police_Chiefs_Claims_The_War_On_Drugs_Has_Failed_

 

 

 

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