UK - Time for Britain and the rest of Europe to join the drugs debate

[edgarshade]

Observer

Saturday 8 February 2014 23.06 GMT

With reader comments

With America rethinking its policy on drugs, our MPs and MEPs need to make their own feelings known. It was with great foresight that a Conservative backbench MP stood up during a parliamentary debate in the House of Commons in 2002 and pleaded with the then Labour government to rethink its commitment to the "war on drugs". "I ask the Labour government not to return to retribution and war on drugs. That has been tried and we all know that it does not work."

Contributions like this have been all too rare from British politicians, particularly at a time when the debate about the merits of prohibition has changed so radically in recent years. That is most evident in the Americas, both North and South.

But in Britain we have heard nothing from frontline political figures. Until now, which is why Nick Clegg's intervention is a welcome one and may start a debate on the merits or otherwise of the war on drugs. The onus is on those who support prohibition to make the case for prolonging a war that has evidently failed. Political figures in the UK and Europe need to engage with the changing tide of public opinion in the Americas and investigate whether market alternatives may provide a better solution than prohibition.

Perhaps the Conservative backbencher who entered the debate in 2002 and declared the war on drugs a failure would care to re-enter the debate? Especially as he is now the prime minister.

More...
http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...icians-global-debate-drugs-observer-editorial

 

[opi8]

What? A conservative party who wants to liberalize drug laws? Am I misreading this, or has the world gone batshit crazy ever since I lost a couple of days due to xanax?

 

[StoneHappyMonday]

Nah, he's the Liberal Democrat half of our coalition government, the LD half that finds itself more and more isolated, unwanted, unneeded and unloved by anyone, let alone their Tory partners, with an ever getting closer election on the horizon. The really hilarious thing being the LD's were full of shit of radical policies and suggestions before the last election, promises they went back on (student loans anyone?) the second Clegg grabbed his one and only chance of a bit of egomaniacal power.

They'll hardly get a vote in the election, twat can say what he likes. Everyone in the UK hates Nick Clegg. With a vengeance.

 

[opi8]

The really hilarious thing being the LD's were full of shit of radical policies and suggestions before the last election, promises they went back on (student loans anyone?) .

Have you seen many elections in your life? Going back on core promises is how it's always been mate. Our new PM has backflipped on about 25 issues, and he's only been in power a few months.