Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2002
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2002
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CALL TO LEGALISE DRUGS

THE comedian and writer Ben Elton has urged the government to legalise all 
class-A drugs.

Current drug laws should be overhauled to make heroin, crack and cocaine 
legally available, he said.

Elton, a father of two who recently entertained the crowds at the Queena  s 
Jubilee pop concert at Buckingham Palace, said criminalisation did nothing 
but lead to organised crime.

He added: "I firmly believe that hugely radical solutions are now required. 
Ita  s about legalisation, not de-criminalisation."

Asked whether he was referring to hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine and 
crack, Elton said: "Yes. I think we need to get the police, the government 
and the emergency services in front of the criminals, not behind the criminals.

"It is now a self-evident fact that criminalisation hasna  t worked. All it 
has presented us with is organised crime."
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