Value for money?

As DDN went to press, a major Commons debate on the UK drug laws was taking place, the first for 40 years. The debate was secured with cross-party backing by Caroline Lucas MP (DDN, August 2013, page 16), following a 130,000-strong petition calling for MPs to support an impact assessment and cost benefit analysis of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act. ‘This debate is not about being for or against drugs reform,’ said Lucas. ‘It’s about making sure we have the best possible laws based on the best possible evidence.’ The same day saw the long-delayed publication of a Home Office report concluding that punitive drug laws failed to curb levels of use. Full report in next month’s DDN.