Chief constable, Richard Brunstrom says legalise all drugs?

Chris Koko

He's got the right idea. Whatever anyone says...it is clear to me that prohibition has failed. That alone should be prompting us to look again at how this is handled.

There is so much fear and disinformation about drugs (look at the rubbish the media print about ecstasy, which has lower complication rates than Aspirin) that this is more likely to be causing the harm in our society than the drugs themselves.

Of course there will always be casualties, but I believe there'd be less than now. And it'd be easier to monitor misuse if people needed to register to get hold of the harder drugs like crack and methamphetamine and heroin.

I think if the anti-legalisation brigade really saw how much drug use there really is now despite it being illegal (amongst people they wouldn't expect mostly too...people with jobs etc) then maybe they'd change their tune!

mark

Well, at least if they were legal they could be regulated and taxed!! - It would drop your council tax bill!!

realdream1

I agree 100% lets make all the drugs legal and stop wasting money trying to get them off the drugs becaus ethey will just get on them again,

Timothy S

I think revisiting the law is a very good idea. Throughout history it has been proved and proved again that prohibition doesn't work. If you tell someone they can't do something you can bet that's exactly what they are going to do. Proper education and freedom of choice will serve us better. He (CC Brunstrom) is also right to point out the hypocrisy of the law not including alcohol and tobacco.
For example, there has been a lot of hysteria in the media surrounding 'new super strong skunk' causing various social ills but when Stella Artois earned itself the nickname 'wife beater' was it taken off the shelves?
Another example is heroin. There are hundreds of registered, well to do, non criminal diamorphine (heroin) addicts who are supplied by the state (UK). The fact of the matter is than medical grade heroin has no physical side effects and does not turn you into that trainspotting version of an addict. It's only when the black market is involved that the drugs get dirty, the prices shoot up and the crime increases.
Legalisation would take it out of the black market, taking the power from the dealers and giving it to the state, and allow proper regulation and control.
It's a forward thinking proposal for a forward thinking society, don't let scare mongering media tell you otherwise.

LUCY M

why not- in the uk each year about 2000 people die from overdoses, killed by stoned drivers or other causes related to the use of illegal drugs. compare this to deaths related to the use of legal drugs- 70,000 alcohol related deaths- 200,000 tobacco related deaths. also we must realise that many drugs people consider to be illegal actually are not, for example the third highest prescribed drug in the health service is di-morphine, on the street this is called heroin!!!

MANCHESTER UK

I have now read the 30 page Proposal from the Chief Constable of North Wales Police.
It makes very interesting reading with quotations from eminent people who agree with him. In fact when he puts the proposal to the Police Authority, I hope they have read his words diligently.
Brunstrom is often seen as a thorn in the motorist's side but this proposal makes sense.
Like you all, I await the deliberation of the Police Authority and what they do about it with the Home Office.

Devils advocate

No that's a man who is at last talking sense. His views are not uncommon. Mo Mowlam wrote a really powerful article in the Independent that echoes those sentiments and she's only one of a few MPs that speak sense.
Prohobition does not work. If the government took control of this market then we would all be in a better place. It worked in Switzerland where they legalised Heroin and Heroin abuse fell by 80%. That's an 80% reduction people. Pure heroin is currently on prescription on the NHS to a few people and it needs to be opened up to the all addicts. It will help reduce drug crime. They will be able to seek help without fear of victimisation, they will have a better chance of getting off it too. The former Chief GP advisor to the Tories advocates this system too.
It's about time we decided on a policy that works and end the policies, of which there are many, that don't.
As for other drugs, hell, they found traces of Cocaine in the House of Commons.
It's time to be adults and not be sheep who trust everything the Daily Mail tells us.

damian

he is right when the dealers get caught trow them out of this country forget human rights,drug dealers care about money and not your rights,get rid of drugs and there dealers.

Gem Gem

I agree with the first answer, but remember, the government will slap tax on it and make a fortune..........

mccormack_thomas

I agree with him. Most crime in the UK is committed by addicts desperate for the money for their next dose.
Legalised drugs would cost pennies so they would have no need to burgle houses, mug people or go on the game.
It probably wouldn't do their health much good. Then, they already have that problem.

andy muso

It's about time all drugs were legalised and regulated. Some people will always want to use drugs and no legislation in the world will stop people wanting to do so, or indeed, stop the supply. Legalisation and regulation will help to protect drug users and get rid of the current suppliers who don't give a toss about the health of their customers. I doubt whether legalisation will make anybody try something that they wouldn't otherwise try. Alcohol and tobacco are legal but not everybody drinks and fewer people smoke.

Marky

In theory, legalising drugs makes the most sense. Take the supply out of the criminals, stop the need to most muggings/robberies which are drug related, and use the money generated to treat the users.

Users would be more likely to give up, society would benefit by a HUGE decrease in crime.

Trouble is, you will have the majority of people who don;t take the time to study it and will always have the 'ban them all' idea which is what we have. They will look to the trials in Brixton which failed as a reason. The thing is, that idea was flawed as it only covered certain drugas and was not consistent with the rest of the country. If youw ant to use that argument, the current drugs policy has been failing for decades and serisouly needs to be changed.

xkhx2008

It could be a good idea, as it sort of take the thrill out of it being legal, HOWEVER, its more likely to be a bad thing as more and more people will try it as it is "legal" and get addicted

big dave

he said to rewrite the drugs misuse act 1971(or whenever it said) basicly he wants drugs like cannabis legalised all the other drugs like heroin. crack, lsd, E, will still be illeagal but probaly liter sentences

falkirkmum

think you got it spot on there mate!

shelagh.medic@talk21.com

It could work. If drugs were legal then they would be less attractive to some people plus it would do away with the dealers making millions. It is important to remember that not all drug addicts are thugs beating up and killing people for money to fund their habit. A lot of users are professionals but they have the money to fund their habit without resorting to crime. Therefore it could be argued that an addict is capable of holding down a responsible job. It would be interesting to see what would happen if they were legalised but I doubt anyone would be willing to take the risk.

Hiker

There are matters of convenience, and there are matters of what is right and what is wrong. While legalizing something may make it easier on the police force and justice system, it is not necessarily the best for society. Along the chief constable's line of thought, although we could legalize stealing and free up some jail space, that is not best for society. Illegal drugs are a detriment to society. There are several reasons they are illegal.

foo_fighters_fan_2002

Obviously not all drugs. I would draw the line at legalising cannabis. Legalising cannabis makes sense economically. Think, with all the government plans for peopel to give up smoking, say it works and most people give up smoking. Theres a huge tax hole left by the whoping duty the government charge on cigarettes that they just arent selling. So What? legalise cannabis, and heavily regulate it, and tax it. Regulate it to an extent where only the clean stuff is legal, Upgrade the more hardcore versions of the drug to class B to deter people from dabbling in the illegal version rather than the legal version. Everybody does cannabis anyway, and with legalisation and hard regulation it will be safer. Adopt an Amsterdam style thing. Free up police time. I know people are going to argue 'hey were phasing out somethign less than cannabis, why should we phase in something worse than tobacco?' Simply, Economy. Why do people go to amsterdam for long weekends? Bring in more tourists. More tourists spending in our country= little push for the economy. Taxation to cover the hole that will be left from tobacco, and to help lift our country out of debt. Free police time, so can catch harder criminals. Safer streets, safer premises may give a little nudge to encourage investors to bring there business to UK. Who knows. I havent done any research, but maybe the extra money will out way the extra strain on the NHS if there is any.

Chrisp

You need to read Ben Elton's High Society if you havent already

NORMAN W

BRUNSTROM is a fruitcake, crackerjack, nutcase. The best thing that man could do is die.

Hiyawaffa

Great cause more misery on the streets of Britain don't he think there are enough problems has it is. why don't they free the prison systems up by putting the dealer into the armed forces then they can see what all the trouble is about in the first place first hand. money, drugs and greed.

superpink99

well you see making that legal would create more disasters, it could coz addiction which could coz distability in communities...

one shot

Totally bloody amazing!!

2 years ago New Labour made a big thing about the "war on drugs" in Afghanistan and reinforced the troops in Helmand district. We now have young men losing their lives in the poppy fields of Afghanistan while a chief copper says legalise the product. The question is - what feckin planet is this comedian disguised as a copper actually on?

The best solution is round up the dealers & addicts on both sides of the Atlantic and bang them up. That way the fields in Afghanistan become surplus to requirements and the Taliban are out of business - Job done & the troops get to come home - clever eh?

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