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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Livingstone attacks 'failed' war on drugs
ePolitix
Thursday 12 Jul 2001 The mayor of London has called for a new approach to tackling drug abuse after describing the war on drugs as a failure. Ken Livingstone argued that resources should be focused on the wider community problems that can be caused by drug and alcohol abuse, rather than pursuing a US-style war on drugs he described as a "failure". In a speech to the London Drug and Alcohol Network, Livingstone set out plans to tackle alcohol and drug abuse in the capital. He argued that a failure to tackle the problems would prevent London from being a safe and thriving city. "We should focus resources and energy to tackle the problems that are of real concern to Londoners - violent crime, public disorder, drug dealing, homelessness, and the number of people dying or with serious health problems because of drugs including alcohol," said the mayor. Livingstone also commented on a police scheme being piloted in Brixton in which people found in possession of cannabis for personal use have the drugs confiscated but are not themselves arrested. "This is a very interesting scheme. Its lessons will need to be addressed by the police and government," he said. Livingstone's contribution to the debate on drugs adds to an increasingly vocal discussion on whether criminalising certain drugs is an effective policy. Home secretary David Blunkett has said that he is interested in a rational debate on the policy, a departure from the hard-line attitude policy of his predecessor, Jack Straw.
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