Pubdate: Sat, 01 Nov 2014
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Malcolm Howard

ELECTORATE SHOULD BE GIVEN CHOICE ON DRUGS POLICY

Brian Dalton (letter, 30 October) is right to believe that we are 
sleepwalking into Ukip having a say in the next government. We are 
likely to get to this position on a very low turnout because, as 
Conservatives and Labour have identical policies, and we don't want 
to vote for minor party, there is nothing we can vote for.

The first question on last night's Question Time demonstrated the 
dilemma we face. The Home Office has produced a report suggesting the 
hard line on drugs is ineffective. Many believe (myself included) 
that while drug dealers should get stiff prison sentences those 
merely possessing and taking drugs should be treated as victims 
rather than criminals, in the same way that the police should treat 
abused 13-year-old girls as victims and not prostitutes.

The governor of Vermont in the USA has demonstrated the effectiveness 
of having a "victim" policy saying not only that the policy has 
reduced the number of addicts, but it is also cost effective as the 
cost of a full rehab programme is only one-tenth of keeping a person in jail.

But both Conservatives and Labour do not want to be confused by the 
facts and will despatch the Home Office report to the bin, insisting 
the current hard-line policy is right. Therefore the only way we can 
demonstrate we don't like the single choice we have is not to vote at 
all. The Scottish referendum turnout illustrated that when there is a 
genuine choice people will vote in droves. When will our politicians 
ever get the message?

Malcolm Howard

Barnstead, Surrey
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