This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35152282
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kenny MacAskill calls for drug policy rethink | Kenny MacAskill calls for drug policy rethink |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A former Scottish justice secretary has suggested that he would be in favour of decriminalising some illegal drugs. | A former Scottish justice secretary has suggested that he would be in favour of decriminalising some illegal drugs. |
| Writing in The Herald, Kenny MacAskill argued that the country should move towards treating drug abuse as a health issue rather than a criminal one. | Writing in The Herald, Kenny MacAskill argued that the country should move towards treating drug abuse as a health issue rather than a criminal one. |
| Mr MacAskill said many other countries had legalised or decriminalised the possession of drugs. | Mr MacAskill said many other countries had legalised or decriminalised the possession of drugs. |
| He said it was time for Scotland to "look anew" at how it dealt with the problem of drug abuse. | He said it was time for Scotland to "look anew" at how it dealt with the problem of drug abuse. |
| But he emphasised that people who profited from the "human misery" caused by the drugs trade should still be prosecuted. | But he emphasised that people who profited from the "human misery" caused by the drugs trade should still be prosecuted. |
| 'Winds of change' | 'Winds of change' |
| Earlier this month, Police Scotland said that some cannabis users caught by its officers may not be prosecuted and would instead receive an on-the-spot recorded warning. | Earlier this month, Police Scotland said that some cannabis users caught by its officers may not be prosecuted and would instead receive an on-the-spot recorded warning. |
| Mr MacAskill served as the SNP government's justice secretary for more than seven years until he was replaced by Michael Matheson in November last year. | Mr MacAskill served as the SNP government's justice secretary for more than seven years until he was replaced by Michael Matheson in November last year. |
| He said it was time for drugs policy to be fully devolved so Scotland could "take action fit for the second decade of the 21st Century rather than administering UK drug laws from the early 1970s". | He said it was time for drugs policy to be fully devolved so Scotland could "take action fit for the second decade of the 21st Century rather than administering UK drug laws from the early 1970s". |
| He said that the "winds of change" on drugs policy were blowing around the world, with a different approach being explored in countries such as the US, Portugal and in South America. | He said that the "winds of change" on drugs policy were blowing around the world, with a different approach being explored in countries such as the US, Portugal and in South America. |
| He added: "Some have chosen to legalise some substances such as cannabis, others have decriminalised minor possession and sought to treat addicts whilst maintaining enforcement against the major drug trade. | He added: "Some have chosen to legalise some substances such as cannabis, others have decriminalised minor possession and sought to treat addicts whilst maintaining enforcement against the major drug trade. |
| "In all those jurisdictions, though, there has been a recognition that the "war on drugs" has failed. Even the United States with all its armoury is unable to stem the flow as it comes from within, as much as without their land. | "In all those jurisdictions, though, there has been a recognition that the "war on drugs" has failed. Even the United States with all its armoury is unable to stem the flow as it comes from within, as much as without their land. |
| "The direction is for drugs policy to no longer primarily be a law-enforcement issue, but become predominately a health and social one." | "The direction is for drugs policy to no longer primarily be a law-enforcement issue, but become predominately a health and social one." |
| 'Human misery' | 'Human misery' |
| The SNP MSP for Edinburgh Eastern called for a commission to carry out a review of what he described as "one of the great social ills of our time". | The SNP MSP for Edinburgh Eastern called for a commission to carry out a review of what he described as "one of the great social ills of our time". |
| He said: "They should be charged with setting the legislative base for a modern drugs policy for Scotland. | He said: "They should be charged with setting the legislative base for a modern drugs policy for Scotland. |
| He said there would still have to be laws and "enforcement against those who make millions out of human misery must be maintained". | He said there would still have to be laws and "enforcement against those who make millions out of human misery must be maintained". |
| "The extent and manner can be debated but the direction of travel should mirror that now being pursued elsewhere," he said. "Predicated more on prevention rather than punishment and pursuing those profiting whilst helping those afflicted." | "The extent and manner can be debated but the direction of travel should mirror that now being pursued elsewhere," he said. "Predicated more on prevention rather than punishment and pursuing those profiting whilst helping those afflicted." |
| Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell criticised Mr MacAskill's comments, adding: "It's bad enough that police want to decriminalise cannabis by the back door, but now it seems some senior figures in the SNP want to go even further. | |
| "This is another indication of the SNP's chaotic handling of Scotland's criminal justice system." | |
| But many of Scotland's leading drug policy experts agree that a radical rethink of the country's approach to the problem is required. | |
| And a UK government report last year found there is "no obvious" link between tough laws and levels of illegal drug use, | |
| Portugal's national coordinator on drug addiction has also said that decriminalisation had "halved" the problem of heroin abuse in the country since the late 1990s. | |
| Portugal has not legalised drugs but it has a system of not imposing criminal penalties on drug users who enter into special programmes designed to end their habits. |