Lancashire MEP's call to make drugs legal

9:40pm Saturday 23rd August 2008

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A European MP for Lancashire has called for all drugs to be legalised.

Chris Davies, who represents constituents in the North West, 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.

In newspaper articles this month 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.

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.

Mr Davies 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.”