Drug law petition passes 100,000 signatures

Many people have spoken out against Britain’s drug laws, but the government has until now given no sign that it will be reviewing the law any time soon.

Now, a petition backed by ex-drug addict Russell Brand and by Richard Branson has already received over 100,000 signatures. Green MP Caroline Lucas, who requested the government to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 within the next year, set up the petition on the Avaaz campaigning website.

Ms Lucas’s campaign was quickly boosted when some high-profile celebrities shared it on their social networking pages. The first celebrities to back the petition were Sir Richard Branson, Sting, Dame Joan Bakewell and Russell Brand.

Ms Lucas wants to know if the £3 billion spent every year by the government to implement its drug policy is being used wisely. She said that somebody should be “checking whether Britain’s current approach is value for money or money wasted”.

Mr Brand, who is now considered an expert on drug abuse, addiction and policy, said: “Almost 2,000 young people die in the UK each year from taking illegal drugs of uncertain potency that they can only get hold of on the illegal market. Leading police, doctors, and politicians agree prohibition has completely failed to curb addiction and instead is costing the UK £3 billion a year.”

Alice Jay, the Avaaz campaign director, agrees with the purpose of the petition. She said: “Experts agree it is one of the most counterproductive policies we have. The government wastes £3 billion of taxpayers’ money every year treating addiction as a crime rather than a disease. It’s time to stop this madness.”

With half the prison population thought to be addicted to drugs, it is certainly time to review how we treat addicts and tackle the illegal drug market.