Legalise drugs says our MEP

ILLEGAL drugs should be able to be brought under a system which can be regulated, a Euro MEP has claimed.

Lib-Dem North-West MEP Chris Davies has added his support to the former head of government anti-drugs policy who believes legalisation would have dramatic benefits for society.

Former civil servant Julian Critchley said Britain’s policy of being tough on drugs is “pointless”. He believes the best way to reduce the harm to society from drugs would be to legalise them

The comments were last night welcomed by Mr Davies, 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,” he said.