The Liberal Democrats are expected to call for an independent inquiry into the decriminalisation and possession of all drugs at their annual conference next week. The motion, put forward by Ewan Hoyle, specifically considers decriminalisation of personal drug possession, and the possibility of a regulated cannabis market within the U.K.
The motion insists that current drugs laws are “harmful” and “ineffective” and urges the government to set up an expert panel to consider the decriminalisation of personal drug use.
If the motion is passed it would become party policy, but they would still need the agreement of the Conservatives before an official government inquiry could be set up.
This is not be the first time the Lib Dems have discussed changing the current drugs laws, in 2002 delegates voted for the legalisation of cannabis, which called for the legalisation and regulation of cannabis, and later in their 2010 election manifesto something resembling a call for decriminalization of all drugs:
“Ensure that financial resources, and police and court time, are not wasted on the unnecessary prosecution and imprisonment of drug users and addicts; the focus instead should be on getting addicts the treatment they need. Police should concentrate their efforts on organised drug pushers and gangs.”
These issues will be debated on Wednesday the 21st 1-2pm Fringe Debate entitled:
Legal Regulation of the Cannabis Market. How, Why and When.
What could control and regulation mean, what benefits could it bring, and how close are we to seeing it happen?
Speakers: Ewan Hoyle of LDDPR, Danny Kushlick of Transform and Prof. Stephen Pudney discuss. Julian Huppert MP chairs.
Location: Hyatt Regency, Allegro
The proposed inquiry would look at:
- Whether possession for personal use should not be a criminal offence.
- Whether possession should still be prohibited but police could only summon individuals to appear before panels tasked with determining education, health or social interventions.
- Potential frameworks for a strictly regulated cannabis market and the potential impacts on organised crime and the health of the public, especially children.
- The motion also proposes the widespread availability of heroin maintenance clinics for the most problematic and vulnerable heroin users.
The Beckley Foundation whole heartedly supports any informed and objective debate on the direction of future drug policy reforms by the current government. 2011 sees the launch of the Beckley Foundation’s Global Initiative for Drug Policy Reform, which has commissioned a new Draft UN Convention on All Illegal Drugs that would allow signatory countries more freedom in deciding their own drug policies. Together with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform, the Foundation has also commissioned the first ever Cost/Benefit Analyses of a Regulated and Taxed Cannabis Market. Both will be launched at a Meeting at the House of Lords on 17/18 November 2011 as well as other evidence to support the need for change in our approach to controlling illegal drugs. The Meeting will also enable the Global Commission on Drug Policy, to present their recent findings, which are closely in line with those of the Beckley Foundation.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I may have ‘discovered’ a way to legally END the manner in which the executive and judicial branch of the government of the United States conduct America’s lucifairian and moralistic “WAR on DRUGS” against any person at random. May I send you my 1-page synopsis of my Theory of Constitution Law? duane olson
Actually there is no law declaring drug use to be criminal, so that needs re-thinking – it’s vital to know what the law is if you aspire to alter it.
The last thing we want is the medicalisation of drug users, seriously, criminalisation is preferable to Ewan’s nightmare vision of counsellors and psychotherapists being given powers to educate us out of our sinful interests. Drug users need to be free from this program of stigmatization you are endorsing here Beckley – there isn’t a libertarian cell in Ewan’s brain. He is like the scary one with the electrodes, get your hands off my brain Lib Dems – freedom of thought and freedom to be free from prostelysing propaganda attacking my space. Drugs are not harmful – it is the possible misuse of them that might be harmful – who can say anything about the harms caused by drugs when 99% of the harm is caused by policy? It is all part of the war on drug users to see them as mad not bad – to hell with this initiative, and BF – wake up and stop throwing your weight behind all kinds of nonsensical initiatives. Be the trend-setter and tell us the truth. You need to sort your own ideas out first – I am sorry but you are not ready yet – proposal for a UN Convention on all illegal drugs – that’s a good one, tell me, what is an illegal drug exactly?