SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 06/09/05

SSP: 'just say no' fails to tackle drugs problem

Scottish Socialist Party MSP Rosemary Byrne today called for radical reform of the drug laws as a Drugscope survey showed prices falling on Scotland's streets

Rosemary said:
"The 'just say no' prohibitionist approach of successive governments has been shown time and again to be a failure.
"This latest survey is not good news - cheaper drugs will mean more young people being sucked in by the dealers.
"If cannabis were to be legalised, its sale could be regulated as with alcohol and cigarettes.
"Those who wish to use cannabis would not be exposed to a world of dealers and heavier drugs.
"The growth of crack cocaine as a supplement to heroin also shows the failure of the government's policy on tackling heroin addiction.
"The SSP has long called for heroin to be made available on prescription to addicts through the NHS, removing the dealers' market, removing the need for addicts to commit crime to support their habit, and enabling addicts to stabilise their lives and give up drugs."
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