CALL FOR NEW ECSTASY LAWS

Ecstasy should be reclassified as a less harmful type of drug, says a new
Liberal Democrat plan for tackling the UK's "failing" drugs policy.

The Lib Dem policy working group also wants to go further than government
proposals in relaxing laws on cannabis.

The report, which is not yet party policy, also calls for fewer people
found with small amounts of drugs to be sent to prison.

Instead, the group of Lib Dems peers, MPs and other party workers, wants
more emphasis on treating drug users.

Launching the proposals on Friday, Baroness Walmsley, who chaired the
group, said it was increasingly clear the law as it stood was not working.

"The current position is one that is completely out of control - the status
quo is no longer an option," she argued.

Confusion complaints

The report says ecstasy, currently on the class A list of the most harmful
drugs, should be re-classified as class B.

While the Runciman report for the Police Foundation recommended that
change, the government has rejected the idea.

The Lib Dem group says wrongly classifying drugs brings the law into
disrepute, saying many young people regularly use ecstasy.

"There is a common view that the majority of people experience no immediate
ill-effects," it says.

"There is clearly a danger that some will come to the conclusion that other
class A drugs like heroin present few dangers and will be tempted to try
them also."

Anti-drugs groups fear moves to slacken laws could see drugs use rise and
cause health problems.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has proposed moving cannabis from class B to
class C, to free up the police to focus more time on harder drugs.

Breaking crime links

But Lady Walmsley said the government plans were ambiguous and left people
wondering who would and would not be prosecuted.

"We want a clear national policy," she said. "We need to break the link
between users and criminal suppliers.

"Freedom from prosecution for those who cultivate, possess or socially
supply small amounts of cannabis for private use will do more than anything
to keep users out of the clutches of criminals."

The group also says the current system fails to help those trapped in a
cycle of drug dependency.

When the Lib Dem spring party conference votes on the proposals next March,
it will be given two options on the imprisonment issue.

Delegates will be able to support the Runciman Commission's recommendation
to end imprisonment for own use possession of class B and C drugs.

Or they can vote to scrap jail sentences for people possessing any drug for
personal use, including class A drugs like heroin or cocaine.

The Lib Dem working group wants more resources ploughed into treating drug
addicts.

Treatment spending

Only a quarter of public money spent on drugs policy goes on education,
prevention and treatment, it says.

That compares to the 62% spent on criminal prosecutions and 13% on efforts
to cut international supply.

The report cites evidence from the National Treatment Outcome Research
Study that every £1 spent on treatment saves £3 on criminal justice spending.

Other proposals in the report include setting up a new drugs commission to
advise government on issues around illegal drugs and legal substances like
alcohol, tobacco and solvents.

There is also a call for more roadside tests of drugs-affected drivers.