UK - Home Affairs Committee report

[edgarshade]

Home Affairs Committee report

Volume I
Volume II
Volume III



Daily Mail

When Russell Brand and Richard Branson are helping shape drug policy, something's gone horribly wrong

By MELANIE PHILLIPS
PUBLISHED: 23:12, 9 December 2012

With reader comments

From the carefully-placed story in a Sunday paper over the weekend, you’d think that today’s report from the Home Affairs Select Committee had come out with all guns blazing for the legalisation of drugs.
That’s because the leak was intended to create an impression of an overwhelming move towards such a revolutionary change in policy.
In fact, the report does not spell out this agenda so explicitly. What it does recommend, however, is something whose only purpose is to bring about drug legalisation — while pretending all the time to be moderate and responsible in order not to frighten the horses.

More...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...ug-policy-somethings-gone-horribly-wrong.html


Guardian

David Cameron urged to take 'now or never' step on drugs reform

Alan Travis, home affairs editor
The Guardian, Monday 10 December 2012

With reader comments

Cross-party committee says prime minister should set up royal commission on Britain's failing drug laws.

David Cameron should urgently set up a royal commission to consider all the alternatives to Britain's failing drug laws, including decriminalisation and legalisation, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded.

The Commons home affairs select committee says after taking evidence from all sides of the drug debate, including from Russell Brand and Richard Branson, that "now, more than ever" there is a case for a fundamental review of all UK drug policy. "This is a critical, now-or-never moment for serious reform," they say.

Among the recommendations contained in a report published on Monday, the MPs say Home Office and health ministers should be sent to Portugal to examine its system of replacing criminal penalties for drug use with a new emphasis on treatment. They say the Portuguese example clearly reduced public concern about drug use and was backed by all political parties and the police.

On the recent explosion of "legal highs" or new psychoactive substances, the MPs say that retailers, including "head shops" and online sellers should be liable for the harms caused by the untested substances they have sold, including for related deaths.

More...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/10/david-cameron-legalising-drugs

BBC News

Consider drugs decriminalisation system, MPs say

By Dominic Casciani
Home affairs correspondent
10 December 2012

The government is being urged by MPs to closely consider a system of drugs de-criminalisation pioneered in Portugal. The Home Affairs Committee said it was impressed with the approach to cutting drug use where people found with small amounts are not always prosecuted. It also asks ministers to monitor the effects of cannabis legalisation in other parts of the world.

The Home Office rejected its call for a Royal Commission on UK drugs policy, saying that was "not necessary".

More...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20648276

 

[edgarshade]

On the recent explosion of "legal highs" or new psychoactive substances, the MPs say that retailers, including "head shops" and online sellers should be liable for the harms caused by the untested substances they have sold, including for related deaths.

Suddenly brewers across UK get 100+ convictions every day for selling a dangerous legal high that kills people!

 

[rickolasnice]

Although decriminalization would be a step in the right direction, legalization would be much better; to ensure quality control.

They should implement a kind of qualification in drug safety. Drug safety should be taught in school (like the drugs education classes we have now.. only it wont be based on lies and misinformation) Then once you are 18 or 21 or whatever you can go and do a course, take some tests, get a license and take some drugs. Much like a driving license. With this card it could also be used to put a limit to the amount of drugs 1 person can buy in a given time..

I would submit my idea to the all mighty overlords but I don't know where to send it

 

[rickolasnice]

5-MeO-DALT is an extremely powerful illegal hallucinogen (tryptamine) with strong psychedelic effects.

???

 

[edgarshade]

Sun Article, check out the poll

Make dope legal
Shock verdict by MPs after year-long inquiry into drugs

By KEVIN SCHOFIELD, Chief Political Correspondent
10 Dec 2012

A DRAMATIC call for Ministers to urgently consider legalising cannabis will be made by senior MPs today.

They say the present approach to the UK’s massive drug problem is not working — and even decriminalising harder substances such as heroin should be looked at.

The shock verdict comes in a groundbreaking report from Westminster’s influential Home Affairs Committee.

It follows a year-long Parliamentary inquiry which heard evidence from witnesses including comic and former heroin addict Russell Brand — who called for drugs possession to be no longer a crime.

Today's Poll 13561 Votes so far
Do you want cannabis legalised?
Yes 84%
No 16%

More...
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4689790/legalise-cannabis-mp-drug-inquiry.html

 

[edgarshade]

Daily Mail

We're not going soft on drugs, says Cameron as he dismisses calls for a Royal commission on drugs policy

By Jack Doyle
PUBLISHED: 00:52, 11 December 2012

With reader comments

David Cameron last night dismissed calls for a Royal Commission into drugs policy - and insisted the Government would not go soft on banned substances. A report by MPs published yesterday called on ministers to consider adopting the Portuguese system, under which possession of small amounts of drugs - even Class As such as heroin and cocaine - is not a criminal offence. Instead users can be handed a spot fine or have their passport taken away, and addicts are encouraged to seek treatment.

But the Prime Minister, speaking on a visit to Cambridge said: ‘I don’t support decriminalisation. We have a policy which actually is working in Britain. ‘Drugs use is coming down, the emphasis on treatment is absolutely right, and we need to continue with that to make sure we can really make a difference. Also, we need to do more to keep drugs out of our prisons. ‘These are the Government’s priorities and I think we should continue with that rather than have some very, very long-term Royal Commission.’

More...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sses-calls-Royal-commission-drugs-policy.html

 

[foolsgold]

When Russell Brand and Richard Branson are helping shape drug policy, something's gone horribly wrong

damn right it has can not stand Russell Brand and his righteous look at me pretching bullshit . sorry but he real is nothing more than jumping on the band wagon while his arguments are all scripted for him by some writer yes i know he was a coke head for years but its all to scripted for money n fame as far as i can see with that slimmy little man

 

[Chesh]

David Cameron is a bit of a dick when it comes to this subject.

Even if drug use is lower now than ever (which I'm sceptical about, so many people in the UK smoke weed), we shouldn't focus on how many people are using drugs we should focus on the overall harm caused by drugs and how to reduce that. For example, lets say 100 people are using heroin and 50 of them are suffering extreme harm (socially and healthwise) or ODing from it, but then if you decriminalise it and 103 people are using it but only 20 are suffering extreme harm or ODing because of better treatment then which is the better option?