Illegal Drugs Policy

EDM number 651 in 2001-02, proposed by Lynne Jones on 14/01/2002.

That this House notes that the United Kingdom has one of the biggest drug problems in Europe; believes it is unhelpful and inaccurate to bracket all illegal drugs together as equally harmful; further notes that there is evidence to show that the availability of criminal sanctions does not deter small-scale possession of cannabis for personal use; further notes that there is no evidence to show that imprisonment prevents small-scale possession of other drugs or is an effective measure in stopping problematic drug use longer term; therefore calls for an end to imprisonment for possession of any drug for personal use; further notes that according to extensive research carried out by the leading charity, DrugScope, such changes would be compatible with current UN treaty obligations; further notes the National Treatment Outcome Research Study's estimate that for every ú1 spent on treatment, ú3 is saved on the criminal justice system; welcomes the Home Secretary's decision to review heroin prescribing; calls on the Government to allocate significant new resources, over and above current provision, directed towards treatment services and the training of professionals to deliver the Government's drugs strategy; further notes that 38 per cent. of injecting drug users are thought to have Hepatitis C; and further calls on the Government to consider providing safe injecting rooms such as those run in Switzerland and The Netherlands for intravenous drug users to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses, transmission of blood borne diseases, dangerous injecting practices and abandoned needles.

This motion has been signed by a total of 30 MPs.