Culture, Science & Sport

Is the War on Drugs working?

Argument for says Kathy Gyngell

On April 22 2011, 15-year-old Isobel Reilly-Jones died at an unsupervised party in her friend’s home. The drugs which killed were found in an unlocked cupboard in the her friend’s father’s bedroom – drugs bought and sold in the UK’s de facto decriminalised...

Read the rest of Kathy's opinion

Kathy Gyngell is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies

Argument against says Niamh Eastwood

In 1998 the UNGASS High Level Meeting in Vienna declared there would be a drug free world in ten years. In 2008 they had to review that position. In England and Wales it is estimated 2.8 million people have taken an illegal drug in the past 12 months, nearly 9% of the population....

Read the rest of Niamh's opinion

Niamh Eastwood is Deputy Direct & Head of Legal Services at Release 

Poll results

Question one

In your opinion, are the current drug laws working for Britain?

Question two

Some say its a taboo subject for Government, but would you welcome a review of our current approach to drug laws?

Question

How supportive would you be if Britain decriminalised, regulated & taxed the sale of drugs?

Comments (8)

  1. Winston Smith

    Decriminalisation does not mean legalisation - it means progress. Evidence is used in a court of law to substantiate a crime but is ignored when addressing policy. This is the true crime.

  2. chillyonthespot

    i would have much more preferred to grow up with a father who smoked weed than one who was (aggressive) occasional drinker)!!!! enough said.

  3. Tom

    Sorry, I hit the wrong button, I disagree with prohibition as it is clearly not working.

  4. kNuX_V1

    Its caused far too much harm world-wide to continue, our politicians need to start talking about the serious issues.

  5. singb

    Its not working, something needs to be done. have a review and change for the better, otherwise we are going to get nowhere with the current laws

  6. owenferguson

    In addition to decimalising them, we should decriminalise them as well :)

  7. Hugh Wallace

    In addition to selling them I think some should be given away, possibly on prescription to those that are otherwise forced into crime to pay.

  8. Thegov

    through reduction of use or taxation. Am I a fan of legalisation, not sure, but the current system is not working

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