A view on the illegality of drugs

Summary of Frustrations

• The policy of prohibition simply cannot work and yet some people continue to insist it can, without exploring the alternative
• There is an incredible hypocrisy that accompanies the drugs issue. It's a simple fact that cigarettes are by far the largest danger to public health and yet until recently the Government was happy to see them sold to 16 year olds
• The only true winners of drug illegality are criminals
• Drug addicts commit vast amounts of acquisitive crime to fund their habit making large numbers of totally innocent people victims
• People with chronic illnesses are denied the therapeutic benefits some of these drugs offer

Supply & Demand

It is abundantly clear that those countries that produce drugs are incapable of being prevented from doing so, by either internal or external agencies. Police have also said that nothing they do has any material impact on supply or demand. Anyone who wants drugs can get them.

Drugs swoops 'have little impact'

Health Concerns

Concern is often expressed about the lack of understanding of the long term health effects of using drugs and rightly so. However we DO know the full horror of smoking related conditions and yet cigarettes remain legal and people continue to use them. People have been using drugs for centuries and are going to continue, irrespective of legal status or associated dangers. The reality is that currently illegal drugs would be *safer* if they were provided legally at pharmaceutical purity, in a known dose and with appropriate packaging and guidance. A licensed drug supplier would also be in the position to offer avenues of help. It's also important to remember that some currently illegal drugs can actually have a beneficial impact for a variety of conditions.

Associated Crime

The illegality of drugs leads to huge financial rewards for their distribution and a huge incentive, despite the penalties, for doing so. On a smaller scale, individual drug pushers have the incentive to hook users on to increasingly more addictive and expensive drugs. The cost of maintaining a habit means addicts are responsible for vast amounts of acquisitive crime. Criminals also use children to help distribute drugs knowing they and the children will avoid any serious consequences. Many terrorist groups around the world use drug profits to help fund their activities.

Police chief says legalise heroin
Chief Constable's Blog

Suggested Characteristics of a Pragmatic Drug Policy

• A legal pharmaceutical supply of all drugs for those determined to take them
• Resources diverted from users to illegal supplier prosecution
• Improved education on the realities of drugs, their effects and the consequences of addiction
• Wider publicity and rational debate on the realities of drug use
• An environment promoting help and understanding, not suffering and ostracism, for users
• A separation of drug users from crime and criminals
• An acceptance that legalisation and endorsement are not the same