DRUGS policy is a bizarre area of politics. On one hand you have almost every policy specialist, many police officers, sheriffs, social workers, doctors and nurses saying the current system needs reformed.
On the other you have the political parties who look unwilling to budge an inch. Only the Greens and the LibDems, two parties unlikely to bother government soon, have put forward reform policies.
This is bizarre – the empirical evidence shows are laws aren’t working; not even close. Politicians fear that by being pro-reform they will be seen as soft on crime and lose votes.
That is because they are unaware of what the alternatives could be. Too many who advocate decriminalisation, legalisation or better treatment for drug users are scared and embarrassed to come out and make the case. For doing so Kenny MacAskill should be applauded.
Scotland isn’t losing the war on drugs – it was lost a long time ago. It’s time we tried a different approach.
Kenny MacAskill's call for drug law reform rejected by Scottish Government
Kenny MacAskill: It's time for a radical alternative to the war on drugs
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here