Decriminalise Ecstasy, Cocaine and Cannabis, The Observer Suggests

Leading establishment newspaper The Observer has called for possession of ecstasy and cocaine and even the supply of cannabis to be decriminalised, in a radical editorial headlined "Time to be adult about drugs."

"In a free society, responsible adults should be permitted to exercise their liberty," the newspaper pointed out. "The moment has come for legalisation of the distribution and consumption of cannabis."

Adding that up to a million young British people also regularly use ecstasy, making deaths "astonishingly rare", they continued by calling for a complete overhaul of the Government's current prohibition-style approach.

"We propose instead that possession of drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine should be decriminalised. We do not believe ecstasy use and cocaine use is so menacing that it merits punitive prison sentences and a criminal record."

Their suggestions were immediately followed by calls from a Liberal Democrat MP to make cocaine legally available over the counter like beer and tobacco.

"I would agree with a lot of people that you would do less damage if cocaine was actually legalised and sold at registered outlets like alcohol rather than leaving it to the boys on the street," Dr Jenny Tonge told BBC News Online..

http://www.observer.co.uk
Tags

• Ecstasy
• Cocaine
• Cannabis