Drugs

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has suggested serious consideration be given to decriminalising drug use in order to resolve the "national emergency" of drug-related deaths in Scotland in a new report. In December 2020, the National Records of Scotland (NRS) reported that the number of

New sentencing guidelines for drugs offences have been introduced in a bid to tackle ethnic and gender disparities. The Sentencing Council has published research showing that the odds of a black offender receiving an immediate custodial sentence for a drug offence are 40 per cent higher than the odd

A number of former police officers are campaigning for the legalisation of drugs in order to stem Scotland's high number of drug deaths, The Times reports. The officers, among them a retired chief inspector, argue that radical reform is needed to punish those who profit from the drug trade and to ad

Prisons should offer free cannabis to drug-dependent prisoners to determine whether it could stem overdose deaths and reduce violence, a police and crime commissioner has said. Arfon Jones, North Wales PCC, said if the authorities seriously wanted to reduce violence in prisons, “they should be

Take-home Naloxone will be given to people at high risk of accidental overdoses in a move designed to reduce the number of drug deaths, the Scottish government has said. This will include those who have been resuscitated by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) following an accidental overdose. 

A top lawyer has called for drug use to be decriminalised in order to combat Scotland's drug deaths crisis. Iain Smith, of Keegan Smith Defence Solicitors, said removing the criminal element from drug use will help users to be seen as “people who are in pain and in need of help”.

Drug-related deaths in Scotland increased by six per cent last year, according to official statistics. National Records of Scotland figures show there were 1,264 deaths, an increase of 77 on 2018 and the highest figure on record. However, the increase last year was significantly lower than the 27 pe

Vancouver, one of the biggest cities in Canada, has become the first jurisdiction in the country to take steps towards decriminalising personal possession of drugs including heroin and cocaine. City councillors unanimously backed proposals from Mayor Kennedy Stewart to adopt a "health-focused" appro

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has defended a man charged by police for operating an illegal drugs consumption van in Glasgow. Peter Krykant was charged with obstruction under the Misuse of Drugs Act, The Times reports.

Almost £4 million has been allocated by the Drug Deaths Taskforce to projects to support its work reducing harm and deaths. The taskforce has announced the Scottish government funding for research and front-line services to help tackle the drug deaths public health emergency over the next year

The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce has welcomed a successful cross border operation where Police Scotland arrested 59 people and seized more than £25 million pounds worth of controlled drugs. More than £7 million in cash and firearms, ammunition, explosives and industrial pill presses

Drugs prosecutions in Scotland have plummeted following a change in policy. Figures show that cases have halved in four years, with prosecutors applying what they say is "smart", not "soft touch" justice.

People with lived experience will lead the agenda at a Scottish conference on drug use in Glasgow. This event, at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre on Wednesday 26 February, is being organised jointly by the Scottish government and Glasgow City Council.

The SNP has called on the UK government to take up the recommendation of a key Westminster committee and hold a consultation on the decriminalisation of drug possession for personal use. In a new report, the health and social care committee said a health-focused and harm reduction approach would ben

A judge in Mexico has granted two people the right to use cocaine recreationally in the first ever ruling of its kind. Both claimants were granted the right to "possess, transport and use cocaine" but not sell it, Mexico United Against Crime (MUCD) said.