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UK
Police
Report:
Legalizing
Drugs
is
Obvious
Choice
1/28/00
The Daily Mail is reporting
that a report released by the Cleveland (UK) Police, one of Britain's most
active police forces, states that the War on Drugs is a failure and that
a legalized, regulated market is the obvious choice to replace it.
The report was written by the force's former assistant Chief Constable
Richard Brunstrom and endorsed by Chief Constable Barry Shaw. It
says in part:
"If there is indeed a war
on drugs, it is not being won -- drugs are cheaper and more readily available
than ever before.... Attempts to restrict availability of illegal drugs
have failed so far everywhere... There is little or no evidence that they
(drug laws) can ever work within acceptable means in a democracy... There
is little evidence that conventional conviction and punishment has any
effect on offending levels."
This in advance of an inquiry
by a British think-tank, the Police Foundation, that is expected to call
for a reassessment of laws against cannabis and ecstasy (MDMA), along with
broader drug policy reforms.
Finally, the report calls
for a Royal Commission to study the issue of drug prohibition, adding its
weight to a growing number of individuals and organizations urging the
Blair government to take this step. The Blair government, however,
has thus far refused to convene such a study.
-- END --
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Issue #123, 1/28/00
Gore Drug Use Question Leads to More Questions | San Francisco Approves Plan to Issue ID Cards to Medical Cannabis Users -- Buyer's Club Seeks Business License | Britain: Shelter Workers Sentenced to Prison for Refusing to Inform on Clients | UK Police Report: Legalizing Drugs is Obvious Choice | Michigan Initiative Effort to Rely on Volunteers, Enthusiasm | Court Strikes Down Cincinnati Ban | Regaining the Vote: Sentencing Project Report Details State and Federal Activities | AlertS: Legislative Action in Maryland and Virginia | Anderson and Boje Cases Seeking Support | Editorial: A Not So Nutty Professor
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