The Scottish authorities has known as on Westminster to decriminalise all medication for private use.
Ministers stated the transfer, outlined in a brand new paper on drug legislation reform, would permit these present in possession of medication to be handled and supported, quite than criminalised and excluded.
Decriminalisation would additionally imply folks in restoration would have a greater likelihood of employment as a result of they might not have a felony document, the Scottish authorities stated.
Other proposals embody rapid legislative modifications to permit Scottish ministers to implement hurt discount measures, comparable to supervised drug consumption amenities and improve entry to the life-saving drug naloxone.
The doc outlines measures that could possibly be carried out by additional devolution, independence, or modifications enacted instantly by the UK authorities to help the work being achieved inside present powers to scale back drug deaths.
The Scottish Minister for Drugs Policy, Elena Whitham, stated: “These are ambitious and radical proposals, grounded in evidence, that will help save lives.
“We need to create a society the place problematic drug use is handled as a well being, not a felony, matter, decreasing stigma and discrimination and enabling the individual to get better and contribute positively to society.
“While we know these proposals will spark debate, they are in line with our public health approach and would further our national mission to improve and save lives.
“We are working laborious inside the powers we have now to scale back drug deaths, and whereas there’s extra we have to do, our method is just at odds with the Westminster laws we should function inside.”
Updating drug classification system
Other proposals embody a highway map for additional exploration of drug legislation reform, targeted on proof and the discount of hurt, together with an replace of the drug classification system to be primarily based on harms brought about.
Ms Whittam stated a right away means for the insurance policies to be enacted could be for the UK authorities to make use of its present powers to vary drug legal guidelines.
“Scotland needs a caring, compassionate and human rights-informed drugs policy, with public health and the reduction of harm as its underlying principles, and we are ready to work with the UK government to put into practice this progressive policy,” she stated.
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No plans to change ‘powerful stance’ on medication
But Downing Street stated Rishi Sunak had no plans to change his “tough stance” on medication.
Asked if the prime minister was prone to grant the Scottish authorities’s request, his spokesperson stated: “No”.
They added: “Whilst I haven’t seen those reports, I think I’m confident enough to say that there are no plans to alter our tough stance on drugs.”
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves additionally dominated out the coverage.
“The short answer is no,” she instructed journalists throughout a go to to Scotland. “I don’t think this sounds like a good policy.”
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar stated drug deaths are 3 times as excessive in Scotland as elsewhere within the UK, regardless of having the identical drug legal guidelines, whereas Ms Reeves added it was not a “constitutional issue”.
Source: information.sky.com”