Pubdate: Sun, 15 Nov 2015
Source: Sunday Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2015 Sunday Herald
Contact:  http://www.sundayherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/873
Author: Nicky Hopkins
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n635/a01.html

Topic of the week: the war on drugs

LEGALISE DRUGS? THAT'S NO ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM

I'D LIKE to commend the Sunday Herald on raising the need to debate 
our current drugs legislation. It has been clear for a long time that 
the so-called war on drugs is simply not working. Those at the top of 
the supply chain go unpunished and get rich while the vulnerable are 
criminalised for the violence and petty crime that surrounds the use 
of illegal substances. It appeared from your reports that interested 
parties who are in the know were not asking for immediate 
decriminalisation. They were just asking for a debate to be opened up 
in Scotland about the issue of decriminalisation. As was pointed out, 
Scotland is a progressive country and there is nothing to fear from a 
discussion, surely?

Our prisons are chock-full of addicts, who are further marginalised 
from society while spending time inside. Meanwhile, over 300 people 
died last year with methadone - little more than a state-sponsored 
drug, if you ask me - in their system. I am no radical and have never 
touched drugs, but I cannot understand for the life of me why we as a 
nation cannot just get on and launch a discussion that is so 
meaningful to the lives of many people - both users and their families.

I know that Scotland doesn't have the power to change drug laws as 
that is an issue for Westminster, but again, as it has been pointed 
out before, that is no reason for a sensible country and its 
Government not to even raise the issue and make our voices and opinions heard.

Nicky Hopkins Glasgow
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