In an open letter to the Prime Minister, they called for "a swift and transparent review of the effectiveness of current drug policies" because the current laws have failed.
The campaign is backed by actresses Dame Judi and Julie Christie, singer Sting, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and former Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth.
Film director Mike Leigh, actress Kathy Burke, three former chief constables and leading lawyers have also put their name to the letter.
It came as a separate group of former world leaders and high profile figures called on governments around the world to “urgently” consider decriminalisation because the “war on drugs” has failed.
Sting said: "Giving young people criminal records for minor drug possession serves little purpose – it is time to think of more imaginative ways of addressing drug use in our society." » | Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Editor | Thursday, June 02, 2011
My comment:
At a time when smoking even tobacco has been all but criminalised, it makes little sense to decriminalise all other drugs. We appear to be living in a topsy-turvy, upside-down world, where things that were once considered normal have been de-normalised, and things that were considered abnormal and deviant are being rolled out anew as something acceptable. They are not acceptable in my eyes. We need to keep drugs out of daily life as much as is possible. And I certainly do not want to be preached to by these so-called 'stars.' They want to legalise these drugs in all probability because they partake of them. Let them find other countries to accept their deviant, unhealthy ways! Don't bring them anywhere near me!
We already have a colossal problem with people suffering from Alzheimers disease. Heaven forbid that the laws on drugs be relaxed. In years to come the institutions which care for the mentally ill will be full to overflowing! – © Mark
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