THE government should relax laws to allow people to have their drugs of choice, Newport West MP Paul Flynn has claimed.

Prohibition has been a curse, he said, adding that it was pretence for governments to believe they could curtail hard drug use.

Speaking in a House of Commons debate on UK drugs policy today, Mr Flynn MP said: “The public know the stupidity and impotence of our drugs policy. I regularly ask how many prisons in Britain are drug free. I always get the answer that there are none. If we cannot keep hard drugs out of prisons, how on earth can we keep them out of schools, clubs or anywhere else? It is a pretence.”

The Labour MP, a long time supporter of drugs law reform who has made 28 speeches in parliament on the subject, said: “I received a call before I came to the House from someone talking about the use of medicinal cannabis, which I have supported for a very long time. It is not that I want to use it. I have never used any illegal drug and I have no plans to use cannabis. The point is the irrationality of the Government’s stand.”

He described Portugal, which changed its drugs policy in 2001, as a “great success story”, saying that within a short time the number of drug-related deaths went down by 50 per cent.

“Marvellous things are happening in other countries throughout the world, and there is a recognition that prohibition has been a curse,” Mr Flynn MP said.

“We now have people taking drugs - often in the most concentrated form and in the most dangerous way - that are produced by people who are irresponsible.

“The best way would be if we relaxed about this and if people could have their drugs of choice—all dangerous and to be avoided if at all possible, but we cannot stop people seeking relaxation and comfort from drugs; that will go on.

“The way to do it is to end prohibition and for a courageous Government to reform our laws.”

The motion calling on the Government to conduct an independent cost-benefit analysis and impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was agreed.  

Nick Webb, Tory candidate for Newport West, said: "It is sadly true that we are unlikely to ever eradicate the damage caused by illegal drugs but we also have to appreciate the importance of the message which the current law sends out. In the UK there is a long-term downward trend in drug misuse. We do not want to jeopardise that progress."