Drugs policy

Thankfully drugs are not a massive problem in the Western Isles, although there is more misuse going on than people recognise.

The Government approach has been to ban certain drugs, on the basis of their addictiveness. The prohibition policy has not worked, just as the prohibition of alcohol in the 20's in the US failed.

The UK and US were so concerned about the never-ending supply chain that they made it one of the key issues when they invaded Afghanistan.

The Taliban banned opium production as anti-Islamic, and quite successfully ended the planting of crops - albeit in brutal circumstances. Since the invasion, production has soared as the farmers try to make a living, and they find the production taxed by the Taliban, leading to the opium poppy now being THE major source of funding for the Taliban.

It is good to see Bill Wilson MSP asking the Executive to reconsider the entire approach to drugs policy in Scotland. He advocates both vigorous enforcement and the acquisition of the drugs at source. This has been advocated before, but requires pan-national action to take this forward.

Hopefully this will be given serious consideration, rather than just being dismissed.