Scotland: the ruling party supports the decriminalization of all drugs

Delegates of the National Party Scottish People's Party (SNP) have unanimously approved a resolution calling for the decriminalization of drug possession and use.

At a conference in Aberdeen on October 13, lawmakers representing Scotland's largest party and third largest in the UK Parliament argued that removing criminal penalties for drug-related offenses and treating drug addiction as a public health issue would help tackle the ongoing epidemic of overdoses, the majority of which are due to opiates.

The amendment proposed at Misuses of Drugs Act 1971 states that the current law «is not fit for 21st century Scotland» and adds a provision «allowing the decriminalization of possession and use of supervised drugs so as not to prevent health services from providing treatment to those who need it.»

SNP MPs Ronnie Cowan, Tommy Sheppard and Alison Thewliss introduced the measure.

«Our law enforcement organizations focus on the weak and vulnerable at the bottom of the pyramid, when they should be focusing on the criminals at the top,» said Sheppard.

He added that if the UK government refused to go ahead with reform, it would have to «give Scotland the ability to do so, because we will take the necessary steps».

As SNP back decriminalisation to address the drug-death crisis, we spoke to @TommySheppard MP on the need for urgent action to save lives. If Westminster won't act, Scotland must. #SNP19 #skotia pic.twitter.com/zoUWeVYkIZ

- Skotia (@TheSkotia) October 13, 2019

«Decriminalization demystifies drugs and puts them back into a strict health perspective,» explains Alison Thewliss. «Drug policy reflects a mindset. Decriminalization changes mindsets, and by changing that, you can treat people as human beings and begin a healing process.»

The Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, This has led to a drop in overdoses, disease transmission by injection and a general decline in drug use in the country.