Drugs should be legalised - Euro MP (From Warrington Guardian)

Drugs should be legalised - Euro MP

WE should legalise the drug trade.

That's the controversial call from a Warrington Euro MP, Chris Davies.

He says the drugs war isn't working - so we should regulate and legalise the sale of drugs like heroin and cannabis instead.

He made the comments in the European political magazine The Sprout, after former BBC director general and current Government advisor Lord Birt said policies designed to cut the supply of illegal drugs into the UK have had no significant impact.

Mr Davies said: "Taking a small percentage of the drugs off the market simply forces up the price, adding to the already vast profits made by the traffickers.

"Far from preventing the use of illegal drugs the policy of prohibition creates the profits which drive the growth of the trade.

"The debate now should be about how to destroy the criminal trade by providing for regulated legal sources while discouraging giving the impression that this would create a green light for drugs use."

Mr Davies, a Liberal Democrat added: "These views used to be controversial but now that the Prime Minister's personal adviser says that existing policies are doomed to failure, it is surely time for politicians to consider whether alternative strategies could do more to curb crime and save lives."