Legalise hard drugs says probation union

Napo wants an end to the 'unacceptable drug trade'

A national meeting of probation officers has called for all hard drugs to be legalised and distributed through a state-run system.

The debate at the annual general meeting of National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) - under way in Llandudno, north Wales - comes a day after Welsh MP Jon Owen Jones made a bid to legalise cannabis.

Napo has long supported decriminalisation for the possession of cannabis.

Jonathan Ledger, Napo chairman

Napo members said it hoped such a move would cut down on the "totally unacceptable social and economic cost of the drug trade".

Added to that they believe it would have a dramatic impact on England and Wales's 200,000 problem who, members said, were responsible for 50% of property crime.

Chairman Jonathan Ledger said: "Napo has long supported decriminalisation for the possession of cannabis.

"Surely the arguments are now compelling enough to extend this to all Class A drugs."

The union has now called for an independent audit into the government's drug strategy.

"It is essential that the government begins to approach drug use from the perspective of health and treatment rather than criminal justice and punishment," Mr Ledger added.

Private bill

On Thursday, former Welsh Health Minister Jon Owen Jones launched a private member's bill to legalise the sale of cannabis.

The Cardiff Central MP wants to decriminalise the drug for recreational and medicinal use.

Jon Owen Jones: Call for change

He published his bill on the issue in Westminster on Thursday after being granted parliamentary time to put his case forward.

He is now set to put the bill before parliament on Friday 26 October.

Mr Jones argues that the campaign to stamp out cannabis use simply has not worked.

"It is simply channelling billions of pounds into the criminal network which use the money to practice their nefarious deeds - including pushing harder drugs," said Mr Jones.

Mr Jones wants the drug licensed for sale alongside alcohol at premises such as off licences because, he says, it is less harmful than tobacco and alcoholic drinks.

In the summer, Conservative MP Peter Lilley also called for the drug's legalisation in an effort to break the criminal link between hard and soft drugs.