Bristol drugs expert wants cocaine legalised
A Bristol drugs expert called for cocaine to be legalised telling an influential Commons committee it was the only way to stop the powerful criminal underworld.
Steve Rolles, who was called to give evidence in Parliament on the cocaine trade, compared users to people who drink alcohol, with some developing addiction problems while the majority do not.
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Bristol drugs expert wants cocaine legalised
Those who take cocaine weigh up the risks and costs with the pleasure they get from it, he added.
"People use cocaine for the obvious reasons that they like it," he told the Home Affairs committee.
"There is a spectrum of drug using. There is a difference between having a glass of wine with dinner and a bottle of rum with breakfast. We need to be able to make that distinction with cocaine."
Whether it would be acceptable, however, for British troops to use the drug he refused to be drawn on despite being pushed by MPs.
Mr Rolles is head of research at charitable think tank Transform Drug Policy Foundation, based at Easton Business Centre on Felix Road, which campaigns for an end to drugs prohibition.
That includes drugs like crack and heroin, although the organisation advocates a system where the most dangerous substances are prescribed by doctors while others could be sold at Dutch-style coffee shops.
Mr Rolles said: "We see prohibition as a failed policy and a reckless policy.
"We think a better alternative would be government regulation where you can control the products, vendors and outlets."
Appearing alongside him was Professor Neil McKeganey, from the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at Glasgow University, who disputed the claims.
He said: "It is wrong to characterise the current laws as a failure. In populations terms less than one per cent of adults are affected.
"The drug laws have served well in not allowing that to expand.
"I would not want to see the government in a price war with the criminals over the cheap supply of drugs."
9 Comments
by Rhys, St George, Bristol
Friday, October 30 2009, 1:24AM
“Prohibition is yesterday, legalisation is tomorrow:-)”
by Sally, Bristol
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 12:23PM
“Truely unbelievable, so now people will have an excuse to mug old ladies, break in to homes and vandalise cars.
I have to agree with Matt, zero tolerance. Stop making up excuses for these morons!”
by Tom Thumb, Bristol
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 12:12PM
“Completely agree with you Chris, I know more people lives that have been ruined by alcohol than by ¿illegal drugs¿ but hey that¿s fine it¿s getting taxed. I find it a ridiculous contradiction that a Government can on one hand condemn drug use for the physical and social problems it can cause yet on the other hand continue to allow the sale of alcohol and cigarettes¿
Every year the Government commission an independent review of all the drug classifications and Alcohol every year is said to be just, if not more damaging physically and socially as any class A drug. If it was discovered today it would with out any question be illegal and put right up there next to heroin. Alcohol is fine in moderation though right???”
by Cokelover, PlanetCoke
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 12:04PM
“Yay , legalise cocaine then we can all be high and happy!!”
by chris, bristol
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 11:59AM
“Did you not read the story? 20 years hard labour...OK so long as anyone smoking a cigarette or having a drink gets the same. How is an odd line any different? You people have been reading the Daily Mail for far too long. What we should be doing is locking up people who do real crimes, not punishing people for self inflicted decisions made through choice.”
by Curtis Warren, Jersey
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 11:26AM
“No dont do that lad it will deffo put me out of business then.”
by RW, Wessex
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 9:00AM
“I like totally agree. Lets legalise all drugs. In fact it should be free on the NHS. At the moment with the recent legalisation of theft and assault, its going to be a great place to live. A few lawful decades ago, some things would have been thought unthinkable.................now its a case a "whatever"...........and damm the consequences. I do see the thinking behind such research, but this is a rocky road we are going down without any brake or U turn.........I really despair for our future.”
by F W, Bristol
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 8:57AM
“Matt, 20 years hard-labour? Not tough enough... in most countries in Asia people get the death penalty for drug crimes and yet they still have a drug problem. Clearly, something even tougher is needed.
Maybe the torture and slow execution of entire families if any relative is caught with drugs?”
by Matt, Bristol
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 7:25AM
“Price war? Zero tolerance is the answer. If caught selling class A drugs in any capacity 20 years hard labour.
Areas where gun crime is high, send in special forces and resistance is futile.”