In the midst of growing demands for a reconsideration of Britain’s strict drug laws, an ex-minister has made a case for the legalization of drugs in the country. The current classification system places substances like cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA in class A and B categories, with possession of these drugs carrying a penalty of up to seven years in jail. The Scottish National Party (SNP) advocates for the relaxation of personal use laws, arguing that treating addiction as a health issue rather than a matter for the courts would be more beneficial. However, Downing Street has rejected these demands, stating that there are no plans to change the current drug policy. A senior Tory MP, Crispin Blunt, has now joined the discussion, criticizing the current UK drug policy as “politically cowardly” and “outdated.” Blunt, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Drug Policy Reform, is calling for a more evidence-based approach to reduce drug-related deaths in the country. In 2020, England and Wales experienced the highest number of drug-related deaths since records began in 1993, with 3,060 fatalities. Blunt believes that legalizing drugs would enable better regulation, testing, and labeling of their contents, contrasting the current unregulated street market where drugs can be mixed with harmful substances. Under the current Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971, drugs are divided into three classes, and the penalties for possession and supply vary accordingly. Critics argue that the classification system is not based on the actual harm or addictiveness of the substances and exclude legally available substances like cigarettes and alcohol. The debate surrounding drug policy in the UK has persisted for years, with confidential proposals in 2016 recommending the decriminalization of drug use, which were not implemented. Recently, SNP ministers have released a report calling for an ambitious and radical plan to address Scotland’s drug deaths crisis and advocating for a wider review of drug laws in the UK. However, the UK government quickly dismissed these proposals and maintained its tough stance on drug laws. The discussion underscores the need for evidence-based and harm-reduction focused drug policies rather than relying on outdated approaches that criminalize drug users.
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