Illegal Drugs

[said]

The use of illegal drugs has become a huge concern in the UK. Many innocent families have been affected by violence and unsocial behaviour but far more, by their children being targeted and encouraged to use drugs. Then the children get into debt. When this happens the dealers force the youngsters into dealing themselves to repay the debts - and if those debt are still not repaid, the youngsters face rape and vicious attacks.

All illegal drugs should be given a zero tolerance in the UK - do you agree?

We read that cannabis is mild - that cannabis should be legalised. Rubbish! A letter to the Police from a very concerned resident:

"The letter also explained how drug gangs recruit young people. Ms August-Hanson said: "A dealer will give the child ket or beak to try. They are usually older teenagers or in their early 20’s.
"Some young dealers in the lower levels have perfectly normal jobs in banks, or trades such as joinery or painting and decorating. I use the word child to reflect the naivety and vulnerability of the young person. Once they have tried ket (ketamine)and or coke (cocaine) they will be made to pay for it. As soon as they don’t have the cash to pay they are given stock to sell."
And the same letter explained how the drugs were now becoming more harmful. Ms August-Hanson said: "Don’t ever think for a moment “it’s only weed and my teenager will grow out of it”. The weed for sale today has the strength of what used to be called skunk.
"Twenty years ago “weed” contained levels of THC of 1% to 3%. Now the typical range is 15% to 20%. Regular use removes ambition and energy from even the brightest youngsters. Behaviours change. They become withdrawn and secretive."

[donkey22]

We already have a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs in the U.K.
It’s just this policy doesn’t work. Decades of prohibition have been a failure. All that has happened is the creation of a huge and lucrative black market with plenty of foot soldiers ready to step into the shoes of those arrested. Drug users don’t even need to go out of their homes to buy drugs anymore. There are plenty of Darknet markets with dealers selling their goods on Amazon style marketplaces.
We should follow the successful harm reduction policies of countries that have decriminalised recreational drug use. Over 30 countries worldwide have successfully done this and treat drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal matter. They have far fewer drug related deaths and drug related crime has fallen massively.
Portugal has really benefited from such a policy.
https://transformdrugs.org/blog/drug...ecord-straight

[said]

We already have a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs in the U.K.
It’s just this policy doesn’t work. Decades of prohibition have been a failure. All that has happened is the creation of a huge and lucrative black market with plenty of foot soldiers ready to step into the shoes of those arrested. Drug users don’t even need to go out of their homes to buy drugs anymore. There are plenty of Darknet markets with dealers selling their goods on Amazon style marketplaces.
We should follow the successful harm reduction policies of countries that have decriminalised recreational drug use. Over 30 countries worldwide have successfully done this and treat drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal matter. They have far fewer drug related deaths and drug related crime has fallen massively.
Portugal has really benefited from such a policy.
https://transformdrugs.org/blog/drug...ecord-straight

You would think with the UK being an Island, that they could stop most drugs coming into the country. The drug import increased drastically under Freedom of Movement.

For a while the strict rules regarding illegal drug use in Poland worked, but not for long. Portugal has a land area the third of the UK, and a population density of one sixth that of the UK - i.e fewer people per square km than the UK - if that has any affect on the figures??

[Alikado]

You would think with the UK being an Island, that they could stop most drugs coming into the country. The drug import increased drastically under Freedom of Movement.

For a while the strict rules regarding illegal drug use in Poland worked, but not for long. Portugal has a land area the third of the UK, and a population density of one sixth that of the UK - i.e fewer people per square km than the UK - if that has any affect on the figures??

Freedom of movement has / had absolutely nothing to do with it, this country has and always had the option of manning the borders and checking everybody and everything coming into the country, it chose not to and still chooses not to.

[said]

Freedom of movement has / had absolutely nothing to do with it, this country has and always had the option of manning the borders and checking everybody and everything coming into the country, it chose not to and still chooses not to.

I know that is true full well. I have some Polish friends who would regularly commute between Poland and the UK. They would often brag that there were never any checks made on what they were carrying. They brought back cheap cigarettes, illegal drugs, fireworks etc., they claimed that many of their friends did the same.

It was only when Freedom of Movement was introduced, it meant that there were larger numbers of people crossing borders and insufficient staff to make these checks. It was only then that there was an increase in illegal goods and a surge in the Black Market. i.e Old Hungarian guns, Tasers, knives etc., as well as illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol.