Now drug advisers say heroin should be decriminalised and users be sent on courses to be educated

Would be like current 'speed awareness' scheme



But Home Office has 'no intention' of liberalising laws

Controversial: The Government's advisers would not have this man criminalised for cannabis possession

A controversial panel of government advisers last night called for a radical liberalisation of drugs laws – with even class-A users escaping punishment.

Instead of being hauled before the courts, those caught in possession of hard drugs for personal use, such as heroin and ecstasy, would be sent on courses to educate them.



The proposal, by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, was made in a submission to the Sentencing Council, and is the latest in a string of demands by the panel for a softer line against drug users, with civil rather than criminal punishments being handed down.



Possession of class A drugs such as cocaine is punishable by up to seven years in jail or a fine, class B, such as cannabis, by up to five years or a fine, and class C, such as speed, by up to two years or a fine.

The proposal was immediately dismissed by the Government. The ACMD’s position has led to clashes with ministers, and last night it earned itself another rebuke from the Home Office, which reminded its members that ‘drugs destroy lives’. Home Office officials added: ‘We have no intention of liberalising our drugs laws.’



Professor Les Iversen, ACMD chairman, is arguing for the UK to be more creative in dealing with those caught in possession of drugs.



Professor Les Iversen, ACMD chairman, is leading the call for the drug laws to be relaxed

'The policy of decriminalising the possession of all drugs would lead to more than 30,000 users avoiding prison or other criminal sanctions each year. The council also suggests drug users could have their driving licences and passports confiscated as part of a civil penalty.'



Dealers would still face criminal charges. ‘Such approaches may be more effective in reducing repeat offending,’ it said.



About 35,000 people were sentenced for drug possession in 2009. A further 11,490 were given an on-the-spot fine, many for possession of small amounts of drugs, and 43,000 were cautioned.



The ACMD added that anyone caught with drugs who is also involved or linked to other crimes would be dealt with through the court system.

The Home Office said: ‘Drugs are illegal because they are harmful – they destroy lives and cause untold misery. Those caught in the cycle of dependency must be supported to live drug-free lives, but giving people a green light to possess drugs through decriminalisation is clearly not the answer.’



The ACMD has been demanding a softer approach for years. Under Labour, the panel twice said cannabis should be a class C rather than class B drug, and suggested downgrading ecstasy from A to B.



Wide-ranging: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs believes the law change should apply to any drugs, including cocaine (above)

Former chairman Professor David Nutt was sacked by the Home Secretary in October 2009 for saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and nicotine, and arguing that it had been upgraded to class B for political reasons. He also said taking ecstasy was no more dangerous than an ‘addiction’ to horse riding.



Critics hoped for a change of direction this year after the appointment to the ACMD of Christian GP Dr Hans-Christian Raabe, who took a tough stance against cannabis.

