SCOTS WARY OF POLICY ON DRUGS REFORM

Scottish public opinion on drug laws trails behind government policy and
also that of English people.

The Executive's 'harm reduction' policy to educate people to use drugs more
safely does not have public support, while over the past two decades,
opinion on cannabis has shifted.

These findings, from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, carried out in
2001, are to be published tomorrow in the book, Devolution: Scottish
Answers to Scottish Questions.

They show Scots are now more tolerant of drug use, but not of dealing. A
slim majority, 50%, think cannabis should be legalised, up from 30% 20
years ago. Some 47% think it should remain illegal, down from 68%.

But 70% believe cannabis dealers should be prosecuted, and 89% think heroin
and ecstasy use should remain illegal.

And, while Scots support drug users being given clean needles, only 47%
agree that 'young people should be given information about how to use drugs
safely'. In England, 54% back the current policy.