Government reject calls to legalise drugs following a report

A report has urged ministers to consider changing the UK drug policy

14:50 10 December 2012

Britain’s Government has declined to make changes on its rules on drugs following the points raised in a report. The report from the Home Affairs Select Committee called for drugs to become legalised.

 

Some ministers say the UK is not up to scratch when it comes to tackling the drug trade, and that a reform of the countries drug policy is required. However, the Government has said it does not intend to legalise drugs.

 

A spokesperson for the Government said: “Our current laws draw on the best available evidence and as such we have no intention of downgrading or declassifying cannabis.”

 

The report by the committee made references to foreign countries in parts, with regards to their current drug policies. This included America, where in certain states the legalisation of cannabis is thought to be underway.

 

It also called for a Royal Commission to consider decriminalising cannabis, which the Government has reportedly deemed as unnecessary.

 

Some of the issues raised by MP’s are understood to have related to the UK’s drug policy and the way in which drug users are given help. This relates to their recovery from their addiction.

 

Based on reports, there were also calls for more action to be taken against those people who sell ‘legal highs’, as there have been instances in the past where people have died from using them.

 

In Portugal, drug users in possession of small amounts of drugs escape prosecution as it is not a criminal offence.