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Decriminalise drugs, inquiry by cross-party peers says Decriminalise drugs, inquiry by cross-party peers says
(about 7 hours later)
The possession and use of all illegal drugs should be decriminalised, a report by peers has said. The possession and use of all illegal drugs should be decriminalised, a cross-party group of peers has said.
The least harmful should be regulated and sold in licensed shops, with labels detailing risks, the group concluded.The least harmful should be regulated and sold in licensed shops, with labels detailing risks, the group concluded.
Its inquiry examined how to protect young people from new "legal highs" but the peers said they found the supply of all types of drugs could be linked. The panel of nine peers said criminal sanctions did not combat drug addiction, and only marginalised users.
A previous call by MPs for a royal commission on drug decriminalisation was rejected by the prime minister. A recent call by MPs for a royal commission on drug decriminalisation was rejected by the prime minister, who said current policy was working.
David Cameron said the current policy was working in the UK. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform - comprising two Conservatives, two Labour peers, one Liberal Democrat and four crossbenchers - took evidence from 31 experts and organisations, including the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
'Counter-productive'
The panel of nine peers - two Conservative, two Labour, a Liberal Democrat and four crossbenchers - took evidence from 31 experts and organisations, including the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
While the supply of the most dangerous substances should remain banned, users caught with a small quantity of any drug should not be penalised, it said.While the supply of the most dangerous substances should remain banned, users caught with a small quantity of any drug should not be penalised, it said.
"The Misuse of Drugs Act is counter-productive in attempting to reduce drug addiction and other drug harms to young people," said Baroness Meacher, chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary group for drug policy reform, as she presented the findings. "The Misuse of Drugs Act is counter-productive in attempting to reduce drug addiction and other drug harms to young people," said group chairwoman Baroness Meacher.
The 1971 act is in desperate need of reform, the group said. The 1971 act was in desperate need of reform, the group said.
The remaining sections of the act were "causing serious risks to the many young people (though not only young people), who are determined to experiment with drugs". 'Relatively safe'
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform's inquiry took evidence about new psychoactive substances (NPS) - the so-called legal highs - but it said witnesses repeatedly referred across to the impact of the traditional drug market upon the demand for new substances. "What we're saying is there are drugs a great deal safer than alcohol and tobacco," Baroness Meacher told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"For example, because ecstasy is a controlled substance, young people obtain it from illegal drug dealers who often mix it with dangerous substances. During periods when ecstasy is particularly contaminated, young people turn to a new psychoactive drug which mimics ecstasy," it said. Citing "legal highs" available as substitutes for ecstasy, she said: "If those much safer drugs were provided - say, in a chemist, very carefully labelled - at least you'd know what was in it.
"If government wants to reduce the use of NPS, any policy must take account of the interaction between the markets for traditional and 'new' drugs." "At the moment 60 million ecstasy tablets are sold every year to young people, all through criminal gangs and the illegal dealers.
'Too sensitive' "What we're saying is if young people are going to buy these things, is it not better that they know exactly what is in them? They will not be contaminated because they will be provided through legal channels. And the young people will in fact be relatively safe."
In support of decriminalising the use of all drugs, the report made reference to the model in Portugal, where the numbers of young addicts has fallen under a form of decriminalisation. In support of decriminalising the use of all drugs, the report made reference to the model in Portugal, where there has been a fall in the number of young addicts under a form of decriminalisation.
The group said: "Some young people will always want to experiment and they are at real risk if they can only buy the less harmful drugs from the same dealers who are trying to push the most harmful ones.The group said: "Some young people will always want to experiment and they are at real risk if they can only buy the less harmful drugs from the same dealers who are trying to push the most harmful ones.
"The illegal dealers also have a clear incentive to adulterate their product to increase their profits.""The illegal dealers also have a clear incentive to adulterate their product to increase their profits."
The group suggested that strict regulatory controls could be introduced with an enhanced role for trading standards services in the UK.The group suggested that strict regulatory controls could be introduced with an enhanced role for trading standards services in the UK.
It added politicians should be taken out of decisions on the classification of drugs, as the issues involve scientific judgments. It added that politicians should be taken out of decisions on the classification of drugs, as the issues involved scientific judgements.
Mr Cameron last month ruled out a royal commission to consider the decriminalisation and legalisation of illegal drugs on the grounds that the government's approach is working. David Cameron last month ruled out a royal commission to consider the decriminalisation and legalisation of banned drugs, on the grounds that the government's approach was working.
He was speaking after a home affairs select committee report had said there was a case for a fundamental review of all UK drug policy "now, more than ever". He was responding to a Home Affairs Committee report that argued there was a case for a fundamental review of all UK drug policy "now, more than ever".
Official figures show that drug use in England and Wales is at its lowest rate under current measurements since 1996.Official figures show that drug use in England and Wales is at its lowest rate under current measurements since 1996.