Drugs Expert McKeganey Calls For Zero Tolerance

One of Scotland’s leading drugs misuse experts will today call for a “zero tolerance” approach from the Scottish Government, which he accuses of going soft on the issue.

Professor Neil McKeganey believes police, courts and politicians are giving out the wrong signal on illegal drugs, a problem which he said had reached “breaking point” in Scotland.

Speaking to a delegation of Swedish politicians on the effectiveness of drugs policies, he will highlight the reclassification of cannabis as a clear sign that the UK has taken the wrong path on drugs.

Cannabis was reclassified from class B to class C in 2004, a decision now being reviewed.

He said that Sweden’s “zero tolerance” approach meant it has one of the lowest levels of illegal drug use anywhere in Europe, and believes there is a strong case for Scotland taking a similarly hardline stance.

“There are potential benefits for Scotland in adopting a zero tolerance policy on illegal drugs. We can learn from the Swedish example but there are also aspects of our approach here to illegal drugs that could benefit the Swedes.

“I will give a presentation which will stress that Scottish drug policy should adopt a zero tolerance approach too and the drift towards decriminalisation we have seen over the last few years needs to be reversed.”

Among the 15 visiting Swedish politicians and civil servants is Tomas Hallberg, the director of the European Cities Against Drugs initiative.

The party will visit the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.