The Scottish government has called for the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use.
It wants the UK government to change the laws to allow people to be “treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded”.
However it would still be an offence to have possession of drugs with the intention of supplying them to others.
The government also wants the law to be changed to allow the introduction of supervised drug consumption facilities.
Drugs laws are currently reserved to Westminster.
However, the Scottish government has responsibility for health and social policies around drug consumption.
Other proposals from the Scottish government include more substance checking services and increased access to emergency treatments for drug overdoses.
Seems like a sensible step and possibly free up public services a little for other things? Legalising and taxing feels like a good thing too, but maybe I’m being naieve. Overall though, good for society.
My biggest worry, and it’s such a selfish worry, is how it affects me. I’ve had neighbours (terrace and semi-detached) who smoke weed and it causes everyone’s house to stink. It’s a shitty experience and something you can’t do a lot about. Would that happen more and more with decriminalisation/legalisation? You can use whatever substances you like, but should I be affected by that choice?
I’m not sure I trust people to consider others, drugs or not.
Perhaps it’s the case that if there are specific ‘safe-use’ spaces, people won’t have to do such things in their own home and instead have other places to do - if people have somewhere where they can safely consume drugs and have medical help/supervision then theoretically the need to do that in private becomes unnecessary?
I see your point however as I only have a 20 minute daily commute and yet still often come across the smell of weed once or twice!
Aka the Portuguese approach. Over there anything less than 10 days supply is not considered a criminal offence.
I believe it’s mostly considered to be a successful policy.
Along with safe-use rooms or whatever they are called, it could have a really positive impact on people’s lives
Decriminalisation is not the same as legal
