Pubdate: Tue, 10 Mar 2009
Source: Preston And Leyland Citizen, The (UK)
Copyright: 2009sNewsquest Media Group
Contact: http://www.prestoncitizen.co.uk/contactus/
Website: http://www.prestoncitizen.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4315
Author: David Watkinson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

NORTH WEST MEP: LEGALISE DRUGS TO CUT CRIME

DRUGS like cannabis, cocaine and heroin should be  legalised and sold 
in "closely supervised" high street  outlets, a Lancashire politician 
has claimed.

The drastic changes to the law should be made to help  addicts to 
quit and also tackle criminals making a  "fortune".

Liberal Democrat Euro MP Chris Davies, whose North West  constituency 
includes Lancashire, said that the  policies of prohibition demanded 
by the UN Commission  on Narcotic Drugs had failed.

He said: "Chicago gangster Al Capone did well out of US  alcohol 
prohibition in the 1920s, but legions of his  kind now make a fortune 
out of 21st century drugs  prohibition on a world-wide scale.

"They corrupt officials, undermine governments, and  make a laughing 
stock of police forces across the  world.

"The illegal drug trade also funds terrorist  organisations and puts 
guns in the hands of those who  would kill British soldiers in 
southern Afghanistan."

The MEP said that the only way to defeat the criminals  is to 
legalise some drugs, making them available for  sale through closely 
supervised official outlets.

He said. "Drugs are generally harmful and health  messages must be 
stepped up, but so long as criminals  make money out of pushing their 
sale they have no  chance of success.

"The current system of absolute prohibition is creating  more drug 
users not less.

"If people wanting to quit smoking or drinking ran the  risk of being 
locked up if they asked for help, the  public would rightly think 
that politicians had taken  leave of their senses."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom