Lib Dems would push for drug decriminalisation, says Clegg
The Liberal Democrats would hand drugs policy to the Department of Health if elected, says Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
At a joint appearance with drug law reform campaigner Sir Richard Branson, Clegg insisted that the current “war on drugs” strategy managed by the home office is ineffective.
Proposed reforms would include investigating cannabis legalisation experiments taking place in the US and the medical prescription of cannabis by UK doctors.
The Lib Dems, who have long argued for changes to Britain’s drug laws, said their suggestions were "the most far-reaching drug reform policies ever put forward by a major political party ahead of an election".
Clegg also said that those convicted of possessing small quantities of drug should not be jailed and that young people should not be crippled in later life by criminal records of possession.
"If this was your child and you found those drugs would you go to a doctor or police officer to help them? I think nearly all of us would call the health expert," he said.
"And, in the same way, I just don't think it is right for us as a society to write off these young people who haven't hurt anyone else, just made the wrong choice, so early,” he added.
Instead, Clegg would develop a “diversionary programme” to remove drug users from the criminal justice system.
Clegg also warned that continuing to criminalise drugs would inflate the illegal market, where criminals make huge, untaxed profit.
Prime Minister David Cameron rejected the idea, arguing that drug use in the UK was “plummeting” under existing policy.