Doctor backs calls to legalise drugs

Published on 16/08/2010 14:41

A LEADING doctor yesterday backed calls to decriminalise drug use to cut crime and improve health.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, a former president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), said he agreed that drug laws should be "reconsidered with a view to decriminalising illicit drugs use".

But his remarks will be criticised by some politicians and campaigners who argue that decriminalising drugs would create the mistaken impression that they were not harmful.

Sir Ian said drugs should still be regulated, but added that there was a clear argument for decriminalising their use. Saying he felt like finishing his presidency - which came to an end in July - on a controversial note, Sir Ian said: "I personally back the chairman of the UK Bar Council, Nicholas Green QC, when he calls for drug laws to be reconsidered with a view to decriminalising illicit drugs use. This could drastically reduce crime and improve health."

Last month, Mr Green, one of Britain's most senior lawyers, added his voice to the debate, saying: "A growing body of comparative evidence suggests that decriminalising personal use can have positive consequences - it can free up huge amounts of police resources, reduce crime and recidivism and improve public health.

"All this can be achieved without any overall increase in drug usage. If this is so, then it would be rational to follow suit."