Why Hard Drugs Should be Legalised

In a speech last year, controversial Chief Constable of North Wales Police, Richard Brunstrom, suggested that all hard drugs should be legalised and become available from pharmacies. I agree with him and here I explain why all drugs, whilst evil, should be available on prescription.

Drugs are things that many people have experimented with and they will always be experimented with by those that are curious and keen to try new experiences. Unfortunately, some drugs have such a bad effect on their users that they become almost instantly addictive. This leads to all sorts of problems for society, not least of which is the criminal activities of the addicts who steal and mug to get their “fix”.

Drugs are easily available. A quick trip to your friendly neighbourhood local pub is all you need and provided you know the right person you can get a “teenth of blow”, a “wrap of coke” or an “ecstasy tab”. The people you buy them from them usually seem to be nice respectable people, often the sort you wouldn’t mind having as your next door neighbour.

But these people are criminals. The people that supply are criminals. The people that do the “wholesale” supply are criminals.

These criminals are gangs, organised in networks that tolerate no mistakes on the suppliers lower down the chain. They are ruthless and protect their “business” with violence, intimidation and even murder. They don’t care who they hurt or how they hurt them. Money is the be all end all of their business. Often these people, at the top of the supply chain, are involved in prostitution, people trafficking and other nefarious and vile activities. Some are even linked to terrorism.

But if hard drugs were legalised, including speed, cocaine, heroin and crystal meth, there would be some very beneficial side effects to society.

Firstly, lets start with the people at the bottom of the chain – the junkie who mugs old ladies and innocent people going about their business and who breaks into people’s homes. They do this to get whatever they can to buy their fix. If drugs were legalised, and available free on prescription, the addict would go to their pharmacy to get their fix. There would be no need to rob 86 year old Mrs Jones when she comes out of the Post Office with her pension. There would be no need to break into Mr Smith’s house and steal his laptop. There would be no need to go shoplifting in Tesco.