Legalise all drugs, says MEP

Date published: 22/08/2008

Euro-MP Chris Davies has called for all illegal drugs to be made available for purchase under a system of government licensing and regulation. 

Mr Davies has given strong support to the former head of government anti-drugs policy who this month declared that legalisation would have dramatic benefits for society.

Julian Critchley, former director of the UK Anti-Drug Co-ordination Unit, said that current government policies on drugs were pointless and not supported by evidence. He expressed the belief that his views were privately shared by the "overwhelming majority" of professionals in the field.

His outspoken comments have been welcomed by the Liberal Democrat MEP, who claims that prohibition has had the opposite of the effect intended, increasing drug use and putting billions of pounds into the pockets of drug dealers.

He said: "When people who have had the greatest responsibility for applying existing policy say that it a complete waste of time we should start to think afresh. Alternative strategies need to be explored.

"The object of government policy should be to reduce harm from drugs by undermining the criminals who promote their use in order to make vast profits, and ensuring that those who insist on taking them can do so with the least risk to their health.

"The legal sale of drugs through licensed outlets offers greater opportunities for control, and for communication of health concerns, than the millions of unregulated illegal and dangerous transactions taking place on street corners every week."

However, the MEP said he did not expect politicians at Westminster to pay any regard to Mr Critchley's criticisms.

"I know scores of politicians who believe in the need for a major change in our approach," he said, "but they continue to support policies that don't work for fear of being branded as 'soft' on drugs."