The illegal drug debate is terribly à la mode right now. More than 30 high profile UK figures and celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench and Sting, are urging Prime Minister David Cameron to decriminalise drugs. Co-incidently, this follows Holland’s decision to ban foreigners from its cannabis-selling coffee shops. It would solve the problem for Brits who can’t get their kicks in Amsterdam anymore.

The open letter is a report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which counts Sir Richard Branson among its ranks. The report calls for the legalisation of some drugs and recommends putting a stop to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of drug users.

Spearheaded by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench and Sting (who has definitely done drugs), the campaign also has the support of former defence secretary Bob Ainsworth, actress Kathy Burke, and three former police chiefs – Francis Wilkinson, Tom Lloyd and Paul Whitehouse. Pretty diverse.

Dame Judi has called for “a swift and transparent review of the effectiveness of current drug policies”.

The open letter also suggests the immediate decriminalisation of drug possession.

“Giving young people criminal records for minor drug possession serves little purpose – it is time to think of more imaginative ways of addressing drug use in our society,” says Sting. Imaginative?

The Home Office has responded saying that it has no intention whatsoever of liberalising drugs laws.

[Source: BBC]