Decriminalise drugs, peers say

13 January 2013 Last updated at 21:45 ET

The possession and use of all illegal drugs should be decriminalised, a report by peers has said.

The least harmful should be regulated and sold in licensed shops, with labels detailing risks, the group concluded.

Its inquiry examined how to protect young people from new "legal highs" but the peers said they found the supply of all types of drugs could be linked.

A previous call by MPs for a royal commission on drug decriminalisation was rejected by the prime minister.

David Cameron said the current policy was working in the UK.

The panel of nine peers - two Conservative, two Labour, a Liberal Democrat and four crossbenchers - took evidence from 31 experts and organisations, including the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

While the supply of the most dangerous substances should remain banned, users caught with a small quantity of any drug should not be penalised, it said.

If government wants to reduce the use of NPS, any policy must take account of the interaction between the markets for traditional and 'new' drugs

"The Misuse of Drugs Act is counter-productive in attempting to reduce drug addiction and other drug harms to young people," said Baroness Meacher, chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary group for drug policy reform, as she presented the findings.

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Decriminalise drugs, peers say