Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jul 2015
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2015 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Ian Birrell

IS THIS THE START OF A LOCALLY-LED ASSAULT ON DRUGS PROHIBITION?

The stench of hypocrisy has long hung over the drugs debate. 
Politicians joke about their own use, then talk tough about the 
dangers and the need to crack down on criminals. This could be heard 
again last week when the candidates for the Labour leadership were 
quizzed by a radio listener over cannabis. "I've had a few smokes 
when I was at college," replied Liz Kendall. "I did inhale... but 
that's never been my favourite form of relaxation."

Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper also admitted taking the odd toke 
during student days; only the austere Jeremy Corbyn had never tried 
cannabis. All three former users stressed these were youthful 
indiscretions  as politicians always do. Yet they are in good company 
at Westminster: cabinet ministers have made similar confessions and 
even the Prime Minister admitted to smoking dope at school.

But there is nothing funny about political behaviour on this issue. 
They think it fine to smoke a few spliffs as students, then go on to 
uphold outdated laws that ensure others who are less fortunate, less 
wealthy or less white end up with a criminal conviction for doing the 
same thing. More than 25,000 people annually receive a criminal 
conviction for cannabis offences, each one seeing career and travel 
prospects blighted.

Once again it is a case of do as politicians say, not as they do. 
None of the Conservative ministers see any conflict over their stance 
on drugs. None of the self-declared Labour saviours possesses the wit 
or wisdom to see that one potential way to reconnect their becalmed 
party with a disillusioned public might be to show boldness on drugs. 
Yet clearly prohibition has failed when prices are falling and purity 
is rising, and every day 220,000 adults in England and Wales take 
illegal substances.

Westminster has shown pathetic timidity, despite a British majority 
for cannabis reform and growing global acceptance that the war on 
drugs has been a dismal failure. Almost two dozen other countries are 
introducing forms of decriminalisation, which makes sense on fiscal, 
political and moral grounds. Even in the United States, which 
launched the catastrophic "war" four decades ago, 23 states permit 
medicinal use of marijuana with four more legalising and regulating 
the drug. Several more may follow suit after balloting voters.

But for all the failures of our political leaders, are we now 
starting to see the same kind of locally-led assault on prohibition 
as witnessed in America? The Government remains wedded to the 
disastrous old approach, as seen by its doomed attempt to ban legal 
highs (a market only created as an alternative to illegal ones). Yet 
at the same time tough cuts in public spending have given progressive 
police leaders the excuse to stop wasting precious resources on 
prosecuting people for growing or smoking cannabis. This is a welcome step.

The lead has been set by police and crime commissioners - a position, 
after all, created by the Tories to drive innovation. Finally, some 
are making waves for the right reasons. Two of them - Ron Hogg in 
Durham and Alan Charles in Derbyshire - have effectively 
decriminalised cannabis in their counties, saying they no longer want 
police officers to waste time arresting users or people growing the 
drug for their own use.

A third, Martyn Underhill in Dorset, said he admires their move and 
is discussing with senior officers whether to follow suit. Hopefully 
more will jump on the bandwagon now it is rolling.

Both Hogg and Charles say they need to prioritise spending and must 
focus on the most serious offences rather than stoners with a few pot 
plants in their back garden. This is understandable when George 
Osborne is suggesting more budget cuts for police, after the 
Coalition government already slashed spending by 26 per cent. Quite 
rightly, the pair want their hard-pressed forces to spend time 
chasing the gangs and street dealers that threaten communities, while 
helping any users with addiction issues. The key is harm reduction, 
rather than prosecution of people using cannabis for pleasure or pain relief.

Yet it is hard not to see the bigger picture in political terms. Mike 
Barton, Durham's chief constable, has long been a brave and outspoken 
advocate for decriminalisation of drugs, pointing out prohibition 
failed to stop supply while funding organised crime. He also says, 
correctly, that alcohol is a far bigger societal problem. Now Hogg, a 
former police officer, says he wants to open a national debate and 
has written to the Prime Minister about the failure of current drug laws.

Slowly but surely, the Western world is coming down from the 
hallucinatory war on drugs. Legalisation and regulation is safer for 
both users and society at large. One day we will look back with 
amazement at the idea of handing control of potentially-dangerous 
markets to the most lethal gangs on earth. These small steps in 
Derbyshire and Durham on cannabis are one more sign of progress 
towards a saner world.

Although there are concerns over a postcode lottery for drug 
prosecutions, this shows how austerity can force positive innovation. 
But how telling that the impetus for reform is coming from within the 
police, frustrated by the inertia of national leaders. And what a 
savage indictment of those politicians who smugly discuss their own 
drug use on the radio, yet damn others for doing the same.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom