English comedian, writer and director Ben Elton, in a speech a few days ago before selected members of the Scottish Parliament, called for the legalisation of drugs. He cited current laws as contributing to the “criminalisation of the community” and the increased power of organised crime. Just as the era of Prohibition in the U.S. had failed society in general but not its criminal element in particular, the law - “a contemptible ass” - had created a ghettoised society. Elton, the author of the 2002 novel “High Society” that explored the widespread influence of drugs and, according to its publisher, “the ways in which the criminalisation of drugs criminalises us all”, said that doing nothing wasn’t an option.
He had been invited to speak before the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Alcohol and Drugs after having discussed his views on the “Richard and Judy show” on the UK’s Channel Four television station. Reverend Stephen Brown of Fraserburgh in Scotland was a fellow guest and, interested by Elton’s views, suggested to Stewart Stevenson, his local member of the Scottish parliament and member of the Cross Party group, that Elton come and talk. Elton agreed on the condition that he was coming to talk not as an expert but because of his passionate view that drugs legislation just isn’t working.
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