Call to devolve laws on cannabis in Scotland

David Leask

As Westminster Government partners fall out over the UK's long-standing policy of prohibition, the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is lobbying for drug laws to be devolved.

The umbrella group has formally asked the all-party Smith Commission, which is working on new Home Rule proposals, to move control of the Misuse Of Drugs Act north of the Border.

Charities backing the move include Addaction, one of the biggest bodies supporting addicts in the UK.

Ruchir Shah, SCVO's policy manager, said: "Many voluntary organisations want Scotland to have powers over the control of illegal drugs. Tackling substance abuse could then be tailored more closely to Scotland's particular challenges and needs.

"Some of SCVO's member charities have raised concerns the current approach tries to criminalise people. They would prefer to see policies coming from a health, care and community approach."

Such an approach could see Scotland move to a more liberal regime within the UK - mirroring America. There, different states take very different attitudes to drugs, with two having legalised cannabis and several other decriminalising the substance.

Several senior drugs policy experts north of the border now question Westminster rhetoric on the issue.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame, who chairs the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee, welcomed any move to bring drugs laws to Holyrood, saying this would provide more "cohesive" policy-making.

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