Drugs Reform: 'Now Or Never', Say MPs

David Cameron has rejected calls to consider legalising drugs, insisting that the current strategy is working.

The Prime Minister dismissed calls from a cross-party group of MPs to hold a wide-ranging Royal Commission to look at alternatives, including legalisation.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee claimed Britain had failed to combat major drug dealers and needed to switch approach.

It said the UK could learn from Portugal, where drugs have been "depenalised" and the possession of small amounts does not attract criminal punishment.

Changes in Colorado and Washington, where cannabis is being legalised, and Uruguay where a state monopoly of cannabis production and sale is proposed, should also be studied, it said.

The committee wants the Prime Minister to establish a Royal Commission to start a public debate about drug policy.

Chairman Keith Vaz said that action was now imperative and ministers could not afford to "kick this issue into the long grass".

But Mr Cameron, on a visit to Cambridge, said: "I don't support decriminalisation. We have a policy which actually is working in Britain.

"Drugs use is coming down, the emphasis on treatment is absolutely right, and we need to continue with that to make sure we can really make a difference. Also, we need to do more to keep drugs out of our prisons.

"These are the Government's priorities and I think we should continue with that rather than have some very, very long-term Royal Commission."

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Drugs Reform: 'Now Or Never', Say MPs