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Ex-MI5 boss to call for cannabis to be decriminalised Ex-MI5 boss urges debate about decriminalising cannabis
(about 3 hours later)
  
Ex-MI5 chief Baroness Manningham-Buller is set to call for cannabis to be decriminalised in a speech. Ex-MI5 chief Baroness Manningham-Buller has called on the government to consider decriminalising cannabis.
The crossbench peer believes that only by regulating the sale of cannabis can its psychotic effects be controlled. The crossbench peer said that only by regulating the sale of cannabis could its psychotic effects be controlled.
She is also expected to say the "war on drugs" has been "fruitless". In a speech to the all-party parliamentary drugs group, she said the "war on drugs" had been "fruitless" and yet talk of any change was "taboo".
Her speech to the all-party parliamentary drugs group is likely to single out politicians who "go quiet" when faced by "crude assertions" of the harm caused by changing drugs policy. "Given its effects on us all...I find it extraordinary it is not at the forefront of national debate."
She joins a growing list of high profile figures including Dame Judi Dench, Sting, Sir Richard Branson and former senior police officers who have urged the legalisation of some drugs. She joins a growing list of high profile figures including Dame Judi Dench, Sting, Sir Richard Branson and former senior police officers who have urged the case for legalising some drugs.
Lady Manningham-Buller's speech will form part of a two-day parliamentary conference on drugs policy hearing contributions from narcotics experts from around the world. Lady Manningham-Buller's speech forms part of a two-day parliamentary conference on drugs policy hearing contributions from narcotics experts from around the world.
'Knee-jerk opposition''Knee-jerk opposition'
Regulating cannabis would mean that society focused on the health aspects of drug use rather than the criminalisation of drug users, she is expected to say. Regulating cannabis would mean that society focused on the health aspects of drug use rather than the criminalisation of drug users, she said.
Regulation would also ensure that it did not include the components most dangerous to mental health. This would also ensure that it did not include the components most dangerous to mental health.
Although it is understood that she will not name David Cameron or any other politician, her speech is expected to criticise the reaction of politicians to the "taboo area" of drugs. In her speech, she said it was "extraordinary" that while drugs are harmful to society, destroy lives and increase crime, there was "knee jerk opposition" to any change.
She is expected to say it is "extraordinary" that while drugs are harmful to society, destroy lives and increase crime, there is "knee jerk opposition" to change and an assumption that the current policy is best. "There is a presumption that the current policy is the best we can do," she said.
While politicians may recognise that there are serious questions about the efficacy of current policies, they "go quiet or retract when face by the crude assertion that any other policy would do corrosive and irreparable harm". Policymakers needed to look at "politically uncomfortable" evidence about current approaches and consider alternatives, including whether the UK "should follow Portugal's fascinating example and focus on drug use as a health issue rather than a crime issue?"
Baroness Meacher, who is the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on drugs policy reform - at which Baroness Manningham-Buller is speaking - is calling on David Cameron to take action.Baroness Meacher, who is the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on drugs policy reform - at which Baroness Manningham-Buller is speaking - is calling on David Cameron to take action.
"We are urging the prime minister to bring forward an all party commission to examine our drug laws which are simply not working," she said."We are urging the prime minister to bring forward an all party commission to examine our drug laws which are simply not working," she said.
"We are one of the highest users of drugs and yet we have some of the toughest laws.""We are one of the highest users of drugs and yet we have some of the toughest laws."
'White flag''White flag'
But Chip Somers of the drug treatment group Focus 12 says decriminalising cannabis is the wrong way forward.But Chip Somers of the drug treatment group Focus 12 says decriminalising cannabis is the wrong way forward.
"I don't want the person driving the train I'm on to have just had a joint thank you very much," he said. "I am reassured by the fact that it is illegal.""I don't want the person driving the train I'm on to have just had a joint thank you very much," he said. "I am reassured by the fact that it is illegal."
Christian Guy, policy director of the Centre for Social Justice, agreed that the "war on drugs" was failing, but said that was no reason to "surrender".Christian Guy, policy director of the Centre for Social Justice, agreed that the "war on drugs" was failing, but said that was no reason to "surrender".
He added: "What I am concerned about is the idea that we should stop fighting it and wave the white flag to these criminal gangs and say that we walk away and give up.He added: "What I am concerned about is the idea that we should stop fighting it and wave the white flag to these criminal gangs and say that we walk away and give up.
"We need a clear message from law that says this is wrong and sends the right message to young people. But we also need to take other things more seriously."We need a clear message from law that says this is wrong and sends the right message to young people. But we also need to take other things more seriously.
"This is the wrong call at the wrong time. We need to look at how we prevent drugs use and deal with the demand, not necessarily the supply, and we also need to look at treatment which needs to become much more effective at getting people off drugs and rebuilding their lives, and I think this is a distraction.""This is the wrong call at the wrong time. We need to look at how we prevent drugs use and deal with the demand, not necessarily the supply, and we also need to look at treatment which needs to become much more effective at getting people off drugs and rebuilding their lives, and I think this is a distraction."
Three years ago, the then Labour government reclassified cannabis to Class B from C - against the advice of its own drug advisers who said cannabis played only a "modest" role in the development of psychotic illnesses.Three years ago, the then Labour government reclassified cannabis to Class B from C - against the advice of its own drug advisers who said cannabis played only a "modest" role in the development of psychotic illnesses.