FOR DECRIMINALISATION

Paul Flynn, Labour MP for Newport West:

IT'S not working. So, we won't fix it. That's the mule-headed drugs message
from Government.

No discussion. No debate. Prohibition and tough policies have made Britain
the drug sink of Europe. We repeat the failures of the USA instead of
imitating the success of the pragmatic Dutch policies.

Illegality does not deter. Young people know that drug scare stories are as
true as past warnings that certain sexual practices will make you blind.

After 20 years of cannabis decriminalisation, the Dutch use fewer soft and
hard drugs than we do. Mindless prohibition increases drug use; intelligent
policies reduce all drugs harm.

Simon Hughes, MP for Southwark North and Bermondsey and Liberal Democrat
home affairs spokesman:

THE Police Foundation report makes it abundantly clear that pretending all
drugs are similarly dangerous is the height of irresponsibility.

Only a foolish government will refuse to consider this report seriously.
Government should not give a kneejerk response. Nor will Liberal Democrats.

We have long urged objective assessment of the law and therefore welcome the
new public debate. We shall give our considered response later this year.

Experimenting with different legal responses to drugs in one or more of the
four countries of the United Kingdom could be a very intelligent way
forward. Few people believe that changing nothing is an option.

Howard Marks, former drugs smuggler turned author and after-dinner speaker:

ANY drug is much safer to the community if it is taken out of criminal
control, and it might lead to some criminals moving away from crime.

Legalisation would make turning to crime much less of an easy option for
young people.

I accept that for some people cannabis may not be a safe drug but, during
the millennia that it has been in use, it has not proved to be that
dangerous. I smoke cigarettes, and think cannabis does me less harm than
nicotine.