UK - Lib Dems vote overwhelmingly to set up panel to consider decriminalising drugs

[edgarshade]

Guardian

Paul Owen
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 18 September 2011 19.22 BST

Motion also offers show of support for Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, following high profile resignations from body.

The Liberal Democrats have voted to establish a panel to consider decriminalising the use of all drugs.

The panel would also consider a less radical alternative: that possession would remain illegal, but those caught would have to appear before a panel and made to undertake "appropriate education, health or social interventions", replacing the existing fines and jail sentences on the statute book.

Any money made available by these reforms would be used for education, treatment and rehabilitation.

The motion also offers a show of support for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, following high profile resignations from the body over disagreements with the then-Labour government, and the coalition's plan to remove the statutory minimum of scientists sitting on the council.

Continued
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/18/lib-dems-vote-decriminalising-drugs

 

[Areyouhappynow1]

Its nice to see another step to the right direction

 

[Bardeaux]

I'm not very familiar with politics in the UK, does this panel stand any chance of actually following through?

 

[23536]

Ewan Hoyle, a delegate from Glasgow South and the founder of Liberal Democrats for Drug Policy Reform, moved the motion. Drug policy had been a no-go area for politicians because of "cowardice, pure cowardice", he said – fear of the reaction from tabloid newspapers.

yes because British tabloids are the apostles of moral behavior

 

[Attack Fader]

well if the UK can pull their heads out of their ass hopefully america can too

 

[Renz Envy]

Regardless of the chances of it working, it's still going to raise awareness of logical thinking as opposed to brainwashed ethic-traditionalism.

 

[edgarshade]

There's an interesting thread about this on the Daily Mail forums. Unfortunately, "onedin" seems to be out-talking everyone else.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/newsdebate/t-10236838/index.html

I posted a link to the "legalise cannabis" petition there yesterday and I swear the votes jumped from 7500 to 8500. Only thing was I meant to post the link to the decriminalising all drugs petition, not the cannabis petition. Oh well.