Devolving classification for drugs 'would be problematic'

Published on Sunday 19 April 2009 22:01

MINISTERIAL proposals for a separate Scottish classification of drugs were dismissed yesterday by one of the country's leading anti-drug experts.

Professor Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at Glasgow University, said creation of different classifications north and south of the border would lead to "major problems for justice".

He was responding to a submission from the Scottish Government to the Calman Commission, which is examining the devolution settlement.

The Scottish Government called for drugs policy to be devolved, allowing ministers to set drugs policy in Scotland based on local conditions and problems. But Professor McKeganey said: " If you are arguing for two systems, you are arguing a case that will lead ultimately to a divergence between how drugs are classified in England and Scotland.

"That would create major problems for justice. Someone using cannabis in Dumfries and Galloway would receive a different penalty to the person using the same drug just south of the Border. That creates the potential for confusion. I think we should have a national drug classification system, but one that is contributed to by Scottish ministers, who at present are largely spectators."

A Scottish Government spokes-man insisted that any changes to the classification of drugs in Scotland would be done only on the advice of experts.

He added: "It is a statement of fact to say devolving drugs classification allows the possibility of different decisions being reached in Scotland – that applies to any policy issue currently reserved to Westminster. All decisions on drugs classification would be based upon expert advice from a range of professionals."