Drug policy should be based on evidence of harm, not moral panic

Portugal decriminalised personal use of all drugs in 2001. In the 25 years since, drug-related deaths have fallen dramatically, HIV infections among drug users have collapsed, and overall drug use has not increased. This is not disputed. It is extensively documented in peer-reviewed research.

In the UK, drug policy is still shaped largely by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, a piece of legislation older than most of the people it is applied to. The classification system does not reflect relative harm. Alcohol and tobacco, which kill tens of thousands annually, are legal. Psilocybin and MDMA, which are showing significant promise in clinical trials for depression and PTSD, are Class A.

Reform the classification system to reflect evidence of actual harm. Decriminalise personal possession. Redirect enforcement spending into treatment services, which have a far higher return per pound spent. This is not about being permissive. It is about being effective. The current approach has failed by every measurable metric for five decades.