Chris Davies said legalising drugs would cut crime

North West MEP Chris Davies, who has been convicted over a cannabis protest, said it was the only way to prevent drugs crime.

The drugs research body, Drugscope, said calls to legalise the drugs trade were "naive".

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said Mr Davies was expressing a personal opinion and not party policy.

No-one wants a free-for-all

Chris Davies, MEP

Mr Davies said legalising hard drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine along with cannabis would enable less money to be spent on the prison system and more on addict rehabilitation.

"Far from preventing the use of illegal drugs the policy of prohibition creates the profits which drive the growth of the trade," Mr Davies wrote in the latest edition of the investigative EU magazine The Sprout.

"Taken in excessive quantities all drugs are dangerous and no-one wants a free-for-all but many of the problems stem directly from the criminality involved.

"At present, drug users can never be entirely sure just what they are putting into their bodies.

"It leads to the corruption of our institutions and provides funds for terrorism."

Some drugs are already legally available

Martin Barnes, Drugscope

Drugscope chief executive Martin Barnes said: "We are not convinced that legalisation would end the harms caused by drugs and it is difficult to predict what the consequences would be, particularly on levels of use.

"When you consider the huge profits made from tobacco and alcohol smuggling, it would be naive to suggest that legalisation would see the end of the criminal drugs trade."

Mr Barnes said a calm and open debate was needed.

"Some drugs are already legally available, through methadone treatment and heroin prescribing, and measures such as the establishment of safe injecting rooms should be considered," he added.