Drugs czar Keith Hellawell has met First Minister Donald Dewar and Justice Minister Jim Wallace for talks on how to combat Scotland's illegal drugs problems.

The two politicians and the former police chief agreed that a UK-wide strategy should be devised to tackle the drugs trade.

Mr Hellawell, who was appointed by Prime Minister Tony Blair as UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, caused controversy earlier this week when he hinted that cannabis could be legalised.

During his trip to Scotland, he sought to clarify his position.

He told BBC Scotland's Holyrood Programme: "I don't like the term soft drugs, cannabis can be a dangerous substance.

"But there is nothing new in the fact II have talked about the legalisation of cannabis for medical use for the last 11 years."

Ministerial committee

After the meeting with Mr Hellawell, Mr Dewar said it was vital that a co-ordinated approach be found not just between departments and agencies in Scotland, but also "with our partners on a UK level".

Efforts were already being made to rid drugs from the streets and pointed to the setting up of a ministerial committee on tackling drug misuse which reports directly to the Scottish Cabinet.

"We are putting resources into the fight and making sure that they are spent well.

"It's vital though that we don't operate in isolation. To get results, we need to keep our contacts with the rest of the country.

"I'm pleased that Keith Hellawell will be getting involved with the Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum," said Mr Dewar.

Programme praised

Mr Hellawell commended Scotland's "excellent anti-drugs programme"

He added: "The aim of the government's drugs strategy is to create a healthy and confident society, increasingly free from the harm caused by the misuse of drugs.

"The progress that government departments, agencies and voluntary organisations both in England and in Scotland, have given us a solid platform from which to resolve the complex problems of drugs misuse.

"It is a huge task, we cannot expect results overnight, that is why both strategies are long term.

"I am confident that both governments will be able to benchmark their activities and start to see a difference which will help free our communities from the problems of drugs abuse."

The Scottish Executive plans to invest £10m over the next two years to establish the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency.