Drugs

Germany has become the first major European country to legalise cannabis for personal recreational use. Under a new law which came into force yesterday, adults may possess up to 50 grams of cannabis and three plants at home and carry up to 25 grams of cannabis in public.

Lawmakers in Germany have voted to approve the partial legalisation of cannabis. The legislation advanced by the country's ruling coalition was backed by 407 parliamentarians. 226 voted against the bill and only four abstained.

Drugs minister Elena Whitham has resigned from the Scottish government for health reasons. Ms Whitham was appointed to the post in March last year, after previously serving as minster for community safety.

A state-of-the-art forensic laboratory which plays a vital role in toxicology testing has been formally opened. The purpose-built Moorepark laboratory was established with almost £6 million of Scottish government funding. It carries out toxicology tests for a wide range of substances, includin

Possessing drugs for personal use should cease to be a criminal offence, Ireland's Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use has recommended. On Sunday, the sixth and final meeting of the Citizens' Assembly — established by the Irish government — voted on and agreed 36 recommendations that will pr

Hunter Street Health Centre in the east end of Glasgow is to be the site of Scotland's first drugs consumption room. The facility is supported by the Scottish government as a way to address the country's drugs deaths crisis.

There would be no prosecutions for simple drug possession offences committed in drug consumption facilities, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has said. Responding to a request for a focused statement of prosecution policy in relation to a pilot safer drugs consumption facility in Glasgow, Ms Bain said: &l

Drug consumption rooms should be piloted in Scotland, a committee of MPs has recommended.

Drug deaths have fallen by 279 (21 per cent) compared with 2021, figures from National Records of Scotland show. Drugs minister Elena Whitham said: “My sympathy goes out to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.

Decriminalisation of all drugs for "personal supply" is one of a number of polices which the Scottish government is calling on the UK government to implement in a new paper on drug law reform. The move would allow people found in possession of drugs to be treated and supported rather than criminalis

Drugs minister Elena Whitham has welcomed research from Public Health Scotland which concludes that minimum unit pricing (MUP) has saved lives, reduced hospital admissions and had a ‘positive impact’ on health. In their final report of a series, researchers said that "robust, independent

Research showing more people are getting treatment for problem substance use has been welcomed by the Scottish government. The Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards support the consistent delivery of safe, accessible, high-quality drug treatment.

More than £15 million has been awarded to a range of projects supporting people affected by problem substance use. These include residential rehabilitation services, support for those affected by addiction and homelessness and programmes working with children and families affected by a loved o

A Highland gangland boss who hid drugs valued at thousands of pounds in secret woodland “stash sites” has been jailed for five years and eight months.

A new report on the decriminalisation of people who use drugs suggests the Scottish government is not making full use of its powers. It describes how progress has been made across five different jurisdictions – Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Poland and the US State of Maine.