Sir

I very much support Lord Bingham's call for the legalisation of cannabis use (Times 24th May) and the Home Affairs Select Committee's proposals to liberalise the drug laws. But I would go further: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 should be repealed. Criminalisation has failed; civil regulation is the way forward.

Branding all drug users criminals increases alienation, particularly among young people. It undermines public support for the criminal justice system; increases the level of crimes such as robbery, prostitution and burglary to fund expensive addictions; threatens privacy; has fed the growth of violent and organised crime; and labels many honest people as criminal.

Successive governments, clinging to this failed approach, have resorted to increasingly authoritarian measures. We have seen more use of intrusive policing (e.g. surveillance, telephone interception, informers); and increasingly draconian sentencing (39% of women prisoners are serving sentences for drug offences). Now the Proceeds of Crime Bill will allow the state, via the civil courts to confiscate the 'drug-related' assets of people not even convicted of drug offences.

The use of repressive laws to punish individual consumption of harmful substances is wholly disproportionate. Society accepts that individuals can choose to take part in dangerous activities, from drinking and smoking to extreme sports; the same should be true here.

The Government should decriminalise possession, use and supply of all drugs. A system of civil regulation and control would carefully, effectively regulate access to the lawful supply of drugs. Supply to minors, for example, should remain a criminal offence - but overall, people should be allowed to make their own choices.

Civil regulation and education must offer a better approach to the prevention of drug harm in a free society than prohibition.

Yours

John Wadham
Director
Liberty 21 Tabard Street London SE1 4LA
This letter is exclusive to The Times